ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the two major paradigms used to study communication around the world: the flow of information model and the comparative media model. Information flow was the first of these to be developed, and was largely focused on hegemonic influences of large, powerful countries over the information flows of smaller ones in the post-World War II era. Comparative media analysis considers international communication in a global context with local influences. The starting point for studying international communication is realizing that different nations have different political structures. The United States system, for example, is based on freedom of expression and freedom of information flows, with strong constraints on government regulation of media content. The national media models of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom, Raidio Telefis Eireann in Ireland and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation are often said to embody this approach. These and other media organizations in Great Britain, Canada and Ireland have great freedom of operation.
