Foreign Media

Radio France International
http://en.rfi.fr/company

The media panorama of France is based on two trends; a key role from the state and the power of ownership from media markets such as TV, Radio, and Print. The presence of politics in French journalism is very limited, which it helps to keep people from all parties in peace. The continuing technology innovation throughout the years has brought a new cultural industry into France, where most citizens are not interested in print journalism as their medium. They rather go online using their smart-phones and tablets or watch TV to get their news regardless of how much advertisement is included. In combination with exporting and importing trade, France rank at 61% of its GDP (gross domestic product).

The printing press in France is not as freely as in the United States of America. In the 1980s the French government set a couple of state institutions to regulate all types of media, including print. One of those was the Superior Council of Audio-Visual (SCA) whose duties are to supervise all media publications. In fact, media agencies would need the SCA approval before placing their prints on the market for sale. This would cause competition issues among the rest of similar mediums as well. It sounds like an authoritarian theory where the government decides what to get published and what to get banned from the public. Nonetheless, the daily print of both French and U.S. newspapers are declining due to the migration of the digital era. As far as it goes in the United States, the government can’t play any role on what the media is publishing. Donald Trump wishes to have control over the media at his convenience. He even thought about suspending media licenses if they publish his crooked and lack of epistemology actions. Fox News is one of the most media agencies that share similar ideologies of Donald Trump.

In contrast with print, the French radio industry remains a favorite medium to listen to the news or music. The French audience measurement agency better known as the Médiamétrie, reported in December 2017 that almost 80 percent of teenagers would listen to a radio station at least once a week. I also learned that radio stations in French are less concentrated in the local audience but more interested in national programming, including international news coverage like Paris-based Radio France International that has more than 400 worldwide correspondents in different languages. But nothing compares to the American Central National News (CNN) global media that holds more than 4,000 professionals worldwide working every calendar day 24/7 to bring one of the best news stories in the universe.

Television in France is divided into three categories; one of them is public, which is financed by people’s taxes. So citizen’s money is required in order to transmit television signal. Secondly, private for free, which is financed by advertising companies where they finance TV stations to broadcast their content in exchange for commercial ads during its programming. Lastly, they have a private pay-TV option, where people pay a subscription in order to watch TV. This is similar to the U.S. cable TV system, which is base on a monthly subscription. However, in the United States, people can choose to watch free TV local channels by using a digital antenna, or they can choose to rent cable TV as well.

In contrast with France, in the U.S., there are no restrictions for the internet use, except those websites that violate moral ethics with the porn industry or any other activity that can put people at risk, especially children. Both countries hold a severe punishment to those who send terrorist treats online. Nonetheless, both countries offer freedom of speech to their citizens. The United States and France have a similar chilling effect where the government will jail journalists who presumptively have published a story that discredits people in power (politicians). They will also try to silence those media professionals who are trying to publish a similar story.

In conclusion, the media industry in France is mostly owned by billionaires like Pierre Bergé who died in 2017 and owned French press Le Monde. The French media is controlled mostly by politics and the wealthiest. The system for accountability towards journalists is forbidden. Elite journalists are more political conducted giving opinions instead of presenting supporting facts on their stories. The one thing I don’t like is the media being controlled by government institutions instead of being completely free speech. In contrast with the United States, the press is supposed to be free but the current government wants to turn it into a state-controlled operation.

Sources:
https://medialandscapes.org/country/france
https://www.heritage.org/index/country/france
https://www.cnn.com/about
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2017/france
http://en.rfi.fr/company

Pavlik, John V. Convegring Media, 2018. Print (pg. 323)

Trump-Putin Summit

Donald Trump interrogating Vladimir Putin on the Russia gate scandal.

by Ed Wexler / CagleCartoons.com 2018.

The cartoon represents the reality of a possible collusion from the Russians on past U.S. presidential elections. Making fun of American democracy is the appealing of the image by which both leaders laugh each other on their victory to sabotage the freedom of people to choose their government. On this graphic, Donald Trump hypocritically asked Putin if he interfered in the elections system that thanks god he was the winner anyway.

It is clear to all of us that Trump hates the media, and he will always deny any accusation coming from the press. He wishes he can have the power to silence the press but unfortunately, “the president is not that so powerful like many people think, and actually the president has little or no power at all.” CSN PSC-101 instructor Michael Hampson said once in one of his video lectures. Trump recently alleged on his Twitter account, when would it be the right time to revoke media licenses due to their “fake news”? Well, he can’t revoke any media licenses including those political cartoonists. In consonance with Covering Media the Comics Code Authority is the one agency that can censorship comic books but only if they included sexual and horror content on their publications (329).

First, the above cartoon shows a serious concern from Donald Trump on the Russia gate investigation. Trump looks fired up towards Putin due to the so-called “witch hunt” he alleged the media have created towards him. Putin looked up at him but with a sorrow face, Putin tells Trump that he did interfere. Both seem to be a great movie starring with lots of talent to cast a reality show. On the second cartoon to the right, we finally see both leaders making bully of the outcome of the 2016 election. Just like we see it today with the Trump-Putin summit that took place in Europe recently. If you look them into their eyes very closely and study their body language on this video, you will notice they both look each other very careful, especially when they talk about politics.

The first thing I noticed when looking at this graphic was the cartoonist’s intention to send a message of the shameless surrounding the White House. Why is it the Russia gate scandal hasn’t been concluded for good or worse? Do Muller is waiting for the last minute on the mid-term elections to manipulate the outcome of the suffragists? Maybe so, remember what happened just about days away from the 2016 elections, when former FBI director James Comey announced Hilary’s emails scrutiny. The last-minute allegations of Comey shifted the credibility balance in Trump’s favor and against Hilary. The cartoonist uses funny looking faces of both leaders to persuade viewers.

What really happened on the Trump-Putin summit?

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on the Russia gate scandal.

by Ed Wexler / CagleCartoons.com 2018 

In the above cartoon, I see a possible private meeting between Trump and Putin. I don’t know if the cartoonist opinion is to tell the audience that a private meeting between both leaders did take place in Helsinki. Ed Wexler (the cartoonist) is using his drawing to represent the reality of what is going on. I am not making an assumption of something that I never saw, but who can guarantee me, it did not happen? Well, this is so easy to figure out! Republicans and Democrats know that Russia is not an ally of the U.S. In fact, both party members don’t trust the Russian leader, some of them like Sen. John McCain called Putin a “killer” in the past. "Today's press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory," the Republican senator said right after the Trump-Putin summit.

In conclusion, the images above represent a negative value for our democracy. As media professionals, we have the privilege to fair report the same issue as many times as needed, including public statements without being liable for its content. The cartoonist chose these two prominent people as a political interest where Putin has so much influence over Trump. The misogynist of the White House cannot go against Putin because he knows that his victory was achieved thanks to the intervention of others, and Russians are the only ones in question. That's why Trump has to build a great diplomacy relationship with Vladimir Putin.

Images:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/07/16/trump-and-putins-helsinki-summit-relationship-as-skewered-by-cartoons/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b1764b4a3968

The Walt Disney Company

Steamboat Willie, the first animated film of Mickey Mouse

The Walt Disney Company is a worldwide media of education and entertainment that brings joy along with knowledge. The more than 90-year-old business that started as a cartoon series in Kansas City. Now is the largest media company with presence in more than 40 countries around the globe. From theme parks and resorts all the way through film productions for all ages, including toys and books, Walt Disney the creator, won 22 Oscars from dozens of nominations, a legacy that no other as an individual has ever achieved. They also contribute to student’s education like bringing musical programs to elementary schools like they stated on their Twitter account, the most widely used social media that Disney uses to engage people. Although the entertainment company doesn’t show a lot of interest in using social media as their source for their entire business, they rather advertise at radio, television and print mediums including cable networks and online third parties.

Sources:

https://twitter.com/WaltDisneyCo/status/1007680195711549440

https://d23.com/disney-history/

https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/about/

            Particularly, social media has become very essential in any business, especially those with a global presence like Walt Disney. We can incorporate as many languages as we like, depending on our target region. Either Facebook or Twitter, they both allow us to their innovation tools to open a conversation with others, including information that could change our lives or to learn something new. Nonetheless, if a business uses social media to fabricate false promises to consumers, it would have repercussions not only for their customers but also for future consumers.

            The Walt Disney Company uses Twitter so little. Not too often, they publish news about their business including a new Trailer for a new movie. They also give information about contributions of non-profit matters. In Facebook, they have so few or no interactions with the public. The primary purposes for Walt Disney using Twitter are to show the top new releases for the latest TV series or film productions that they think it would become a hit. Conversation with their audience is very limited on Twitter too, but “likes” seems to be the most interactive relationship between the company and their fans. The effectiveness of its contents on Twitter is just a small contribution to their business; they use other non-social media mediums to engage people instead.

            Last but not least, social media is not always doing legal activities; such media contribute a lot to commit fraud too by big corporations like Disney. According to The Washington Post, Amanda Rushing, a woman from San Francisco along with her son whose name was not revealed, they filed up a lawsuit against Walt Disney last year. Miss. Rushing allegedly accused the entertainment company of espionage. Disney would use mobile apps like Disney Dream Treats, Disney LoL, and many others to spy children as a “commercial exploitation.” Just like our readings from module three says, “humans are vulnerable to manipulation.” Another dark-side of Walt Disney Co. took place in California back In 1994. Disney and Chevron financially contributed to the re-election of Pete Wilson, the governor of California who signed Proposition 187. Thanks to this miserable business that entertain millions of kids around the globe, I was out of education. Proposition 187 would prohibit undocumented immigrants to attend public schools and other social services in the Golden State. I would never forget what Disney and Chevron did to me, stealing ten years of my life!

Source:

https://theconversation.com/misinformation-on-social-media-can-technology-save-us-69264

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/08/07/these-42-disney-apps-are-allegedly-spying-on-your-kids/?utm_term=.b4534e2445fe

http://articles.latimes.com/1994-12-06/business/fi-5549_1_support-measure

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            The only recommendation for Disney fans using their social media is to take the opportunity to focus on those posts about education that contributes to student learning, although in past they obstructed education for certain individuals. So, if Disney is giving you an opportunity for better education, take it, but avoid using their mobile apps, as they are deceived. Disney mobile apps have become the weaknesses achievement of their legacy.

Seeking asylum at the border, not family separations

Families arriving at the southern border with México getting ready to seek asylum but fears Donald Trump's immigration policies. The immigrant's anguish to decide whether they step forward or get back to their origin. 

Photographer: J. Elliott / Reuters

Source: Main for Minds

Art-work: Ramon Warini

The migrants' dilemma to their so call American dream at the southern border with México can turn into Plato's "Allegory of the Cave," theory. If you make any turns to your destiny. it can become uncertain unless you see a light at the end of the dark tunnel. On one side we have entire families, mostly from Central America. On the other side, we have a dictator who's philosophy is to put America first at the cost of children agony. The big question is, who's fault it is? The parents?

The U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions claimed the parents responsible for the separation of their own children. Meanwhile, at a Texas processing center, the U.S. top border security agent said that he would press criminal charges against those parents who bring their kids into our country illegally, regardless of their asylum petitions or Donald Trump's executive order to stop the separation of families.
Source: My San Antonio

Sometimes "logic" speaks better than having to try tests to support our arguments. According to Donald Trump, the government of those countries where migrants runaway, are the cause of legal and illegal immigration towards the United States or any other country in the world. It is so easy to judge others but so hard to put yourself in someone else's shoes. Those of you who have never immigrate to another country due to serious problems going on in your life, won't understand immigration.

Without a doubt, we all know that the number one cause of immigration is the government itself. Many times is due to corruption within the government institutions. Bureaucracy plays a big role in the immigration issue as well. This is why; federal funds are supposed to be sent to state officials, then the state's job is to use those resources to fulfill public services. That's where the system fails because the money never gets all the way through its destiny, instead, it ends up in the pocket of those who are supposed to represent us, the people in power. If the state doesn't spend money on education, infrastructure, health services and other public' needs, we the people, lose. Then what do we do? Do we give up? No, we find solutions, and the only one among many, immigrate to another country. If people can't do it legally, they have no choice but to break any law in order to survive. People careless how tall a wall is, or how long a tunnel might be. The bottom line is that if we have to walk days in the hot desert or climb many mountains, we will go for it and challenge all the obstacles in our way, including the risk of losing our lives.

Is it fair to risk our children?

Is it worthy to put our children at risk in order to achieve the so-called "American dream?" How far can these parents go on their odyssey to arrive at the land of hope?
Photographer: Jerry Lara
Source: https://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/commentary/article/Cause-to-tone-down-the-border-hysteria-12979818.php

It is not fair to risk our children into these scenarios. Our kids can suffer sexual abuse from criminal groups in our way to the northern border of U.S.-Mexico. In addition, they are treated as if they were the enemies of the United States. In an interview on the Spanish network television show "Despierta America," a mother and her 6 years old son told in front of the cameras that immigration enforcement officials threatened then to deport them without their parents. The kid allegedly that detention centers to be worse than Mexican cops.

The problem at border gets tougher and tougher for families seeking to reunite with their kids after being separated. According to an article in My San Antonio website, the Trump administration have lost the track of more the 1,400 children that were split from their parents when seeking asylum at the port of entry. The big question is, who is going to be responsible if those kids can't return to their parents? Trump, Jeff Session, who?

We all know who's fault is, but believe it or not, thanks to inventors like Guglielmo Marconi and Lee de Forest, we can educate the people about what is going on in our society. Being able to transmit information over the radio, is vital for everyone.
Source: Covering Media by John V. Pavlik and Shawn McIntosh pg. 108 and 109.

What about kids in a courtroom by themselves?

A very young boy whose legs not even touch the floor as he seats in the chair of defendants at an immigration court. The innocent kid doesn't even know his basic rights and the coward U.S. government won't give him a chance to have an attorney.

Photo: Twitter

Author: Kimberly A. Johnson

Kimberly A. Johnson, an activist, and author of "Peyton's Choice," as well contributor at The Huffington Post. She wrote on her twitter account "Alone in America" referring to the dilemma of all these innocent victims face thanks to the white supremacist in the oval office, Donald J. Trump. 

There is no doubt that the current administration agenda is to cause harm regardless of who you are. Donald Trump wants to punish everyone at any cost. But I have one concern myself. What about if some of these families bring their pet along with them? Is Trump going to send pets to immigration courts too? I guess so, yes.

https://twitter.com/AuthorKimberley/status/1013424722615390208

Some families are being released from detention centers

Families that are being released from detention centers face freedom but calvary too. An electronic device is placed on their ankles.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2015/11/13/455790454/as-asylum-seekers-swap-prison-beds-for-ankle-bracelets-same-firm-profits
Author: John Burnett

For those families who can make it to freedom from detention centers, they still face an uncertain future. Immigration authorities place an electronic device on their ankles to track their location and to make sure they don't escape from the government. But how effective are these devices? In my opinion, they are not that smart to track people. Actually, they can be cut away easily and escape. However, if you do that, you now become a target to the government.

"It makes me ashamed because they only put them on criminals, and I'm not a criminal yet," said Carolina Menjivar, a 28-year-old from Honduras. Along with her two sons, she was waiting for a bus to continue with her trip and start a new life. Source: NPR

However, it sounds very sweet but I have first hand experienced when women end up with GPS devices. Ninety-five percent of all released immigrants, end up being deported to their country. A relative of mine came to the port of entry and seed asylum. They released her with a GPS on her ankle, which ends up causing severe damage to her ankle. These devices are not safe for the human body, you end up with blisters.

The American dream failed!

The American dream failed for Guatemala's' families. Dozens of families and children arrive at Guatemala City after being deported from the U.S.
Source: AP
Author: Colleen Long

The American dream for dozens or even hundreds of Guatemala families come to an end. Somehow they were able to cross the U.S. border but with little or no luck, they were caught and detained. This the real scenario that most of these migrant faces when trying to escape from their countries. They spend a lot of money on their journey, sometimes they sell their valuable goods in order to have enough money for their trip to America. The so-called American dream end up worse for these people because when return to their country, sometimes many of them don't have a place to stay, they sold it so they can fund their trip to America.

If I were the president of any of these countries, I would tell my people not to go to America. For many reasons, I don't want people to come here. For us, this is not a free country. For us, there is no justice. We have been treated like garbage by the people in power. I would try to fix my country and somehow create jobs so people don't leave and stay. Just like Andrés Manual López Obrador, the president-elect of México who allegedly promised to bring jobs and peace to the Mexican people. I am so optimist about this new change coming into my country.

America outraged

The 2-year-old Honduran toddler was not separated from her mother at the southern border.

Denis Varela, father of the 2-year-old Honduran toddler told to The Washington Post that her daughter was not separated from her mother at the southern border. Furthermore, Mr. Varela told Univision Network that he wanted his child's rights to be protected. "The U.S. government should be conscious that we all have rights," he said.

The outraged image showing how Trump's administration "zero tolerance" harms migrant children, clearly teaches us a modern regime of dictatorship in the U.S. We have heard from Attorney General Jeff Sessions that we are a nation of laws and if you break them, there will be consequences.

A law that causes psychological harm to children is not a law, it is a human rights violation dictum set up by the imperialist system that reigns in Washington DC by a bunch of white supremacists.