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3.6 : What is NOT global journalism?

Global journalism is not a manual or guide imposed externally on journalists for their enlightenment. On the contrary, it has evolved from within practice and processes in the field. It does not come burdened with predefined morals or assumptions: it simply highlights neglected or disregarded aspects of global politics. It is not in itself corrective, aiming to achieve a particular agenda – it just seeks to accurately reflect the new global reality. Finally, it is not presented as a substitute for either domestic or foreign journalism, but aims to build on the best aspects of both to promote more responsive and far-reaching coverage of the same issues.

Saint Louis, city in northern Senegal is threatened by climate change, Senegal 2019.
Author: Jana Čavojská

When we speak about something, it is often even more important to say what it is not. So what is not global journalism? We have, again, looked for inspiration in the works of Peter Berglez and others to outline some key points:

  • It is not a manual, rulebook or externally imposed set of guidelines. While human rights or environmental NGOs, for example, might develop specific protocols around discourse and framing, global journalism has evolved organically within journalism practice to meet changing needs of the sector.
  • It does not require any predefined ideas or moral viewpoints. The point of global outlook is to enable journalists to see and analyze global issues clearly and without preconceptions: this approach can in principle be used by different, even competing interests, such as anti-globalists and globalists or religious and secular groups.
  • It is not corrective. Its primary aim is to respond to new realities, not to change them. It was not developed to change any specific narrative or framing in the way that many traditionally corrective approaches (e.g. human rights journalism, peace journalism, environmental journalism, etc.) to journalism might.
  • It is not designed as a substitute for either domestic or foreign journalism. Instead, global journalism aims to build on the best aspects of both to promote more responsive and far-reaching coverage of the same issues.

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3.1 : Why do we need a global outlook?

The challenges humanity faces today and the rapid geopolitical changes taking place around us means that the need to perceive and reflect the global community as a whole is more urgent than ever. With globalization, we find ourselves closely connected to people and countries on the other side of the planet, but the media has often been slow to fully acknowledge that. Journalism with a global outlook – or ‘global journalism’ – could help ensure that media coverage can catch up with this new reality.

3.2 : What is global journalism?

Even though we live in a globalized world, media coverage often fails react to reflect this. Global journalism responds to these shortcomings through an approach to reporting that explores, analyses and reflects on the relations and interconnections between people and events in different parts of the planet.

3.3 : Where does global journalism come from?

The need for a global approach to journalism can be understood as a long overdue reaction to the changing status quo of the world, its shifting power structures and the complex dynamics driving this transformation, rooted in the growing crises we face in a globalized context.

3.4 : The ‘global outlook’: a shift in the perception of reality

A global outlook expands our understanding of the world and our role in it. It broadens the imaginable boundaries of our understanding of the world, changing it from a dichotomy between a domestic versus foreign outlook to a relations-based global outlook. It brings new ways of interpreting and arranging reality. Thanks to these new skill sets, it enables journalists to connect seemingly unrelated events taking place at different continents, in different positions in local, regional, international and other power structures, into one single coherent story.

3.5 : Why is it important to include a global outlook in reporting?

Free, fair and balanced journalism has always been an important cornerstone of modernity and democracy, empowering people and societies. But the world has changed radically and journalism must adapt to ensure it remains relevant to today’s challenges. With this in mind, global journalism promotes global empowerment and creates the space to debate global issues, problems and solutions. By doing so it makes societies and communities more resilient and better able to withstand the many crises we face.

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