The Role of Media in Caribbean Development

What is Development?

Aggrey Brown, defines Development as, constituting reciprocal action between people and their environment that leads to the actualisation of human potential in all its dimensions, and the preservation and continuity of the environment as they create society and history.

According to the classical definition given by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987, development is sustainable if it “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Definitions of mass media

Mass media are channels of communication through which messages flow, produced by a few for consumption by many people. As the messages go through the channels, they are distorted. When people receive mass-media messages, they have no opportunity for immediate feedback with the producers of the messages.

Mass media refers to those media that are designed to be consumed by large audiences through the agencies of technology

Role of the mass media

The media informs, educates and entertains its audiences.

The media also has the responsibility to provide accurate and reliable information to the public. Time is also a factor in this.

Communication Channels

Radio Television Newspapers and magazines The Internet and other

Media as a developmental tool

Move from focus on GDP as measurement for development.

The human element of development

Mass media as disseminator of information

Encourages accountability by governments and other bodies

Media, a vehicle of change

HIV/AIDS

The Impact of International media on Caribbean media and

vice versa

Cultural Imperialism

Impact on youth

Culture and Traditions

Media content

Technology

Vice Versa

Caribbean Music

Caribbean Programmes

ICC Cricket World Cup 2007