In the early 20th century, getting information on global issues was a major problem due to communication and information dissemination challenges. Earlier, the world depended on the conventional media for information dissemination, which was limited in many aspects. Therefore, such media could only reach a limited audience within a specified region, and thus getting global news was hectic. However, in the 21st century, the information technology revolution enables individuals from different parts of the world to access any information concerning anything irrespective of time and space. Therefore, given the information technology revolution, which has catalyzed globalization, media have increased global understanding and cooperation.
Global understanding and cooperation can only be realized if people have access to information on global affairs. This assertion validates the argument that media have increased global understanding and cooperation. Media act as a conduit through which global information permeates all corners of the world. The conventional media have integrated contemporary communication mediums like the Internet, and thus they can reach a wide audience across the world. With this kind of unconstrained information dissemination, people from the different corners of the world can access information concerning world affairs. Therefore, with this kind of access of information, people can now understand global matters, which breeds cooperation.
However, the current global understanding and cooperation can be approached from both negative and positive perspectives. On the positive side, bodies like the United Nations (UN) use the media to disseminate critical information on global affairs. Currently, the UN can hold virtual meetings with different representatives in all countries across the world through teleconferencing. In such meetings, the representatives from different countries can air their views and this phenomenon facilitates the understanding of global matters. In addition, through the Internet, people from across the world can access information on global issues without the time and place barriers. This access allows people to view global issues from different perspectives and this aspect fosters global understanding.
The downside of the issue of media increasing global understanding and cooperation stands out when people use the stated advantages to destabilize given areas. For instance, the 2010 Arab spring started in Tunisia and ended up in Syria, where Syrians are fighting up to date. In Tunisia, rebels mobilized fellow citizens via the media and especially the social media and they eventually toppled the ruling government. Meanwhile, the Libyans were monitoring closely the Tunisian scenario via the media and within no time, they started their revolution. Immediately the Egyptians revolted against the ruling government and later the Syrian revolts kick started. The media played a central role in the occurrence of these events. This analysis underscores the global cooperation realized courtesy of the media. However, critics will argue that such cooperation is detrimental and it should not be viewed as a progress in global understanding and cooperation. On the other side, those who benefited from the Arab spring will cite such cooperation as a positive move towards a better world.
In conclusion, media have increased global understanding and cooperation. As opposed to the early 20th century when information dissemination was limited, the contemporary media have benefitted from the information technology revolution, which facilitates quick and timeless information sharing. The increased global understanding and cooperation courtesy of media can be viewed from different perspectives as discussed in this paper. However, regardless of the view taken, media have increased global understanding and cooperation.