Localizing the Global: Exploring the Transnational Ties That Bind in New Immigrant Communities

Abstract

This study seeks to examine the ways in which transnational life is lived at different ''local'' levels. In particular, we ask: What are some of the important aspects of immigrants' life that are enacted across borders? To what extent are ethnic media that serve the immigrant population connected to home countries in content and operation? To what extent does transnational news have local and global implications? Multiple methods are employed in this study, including a telephone survey of immigrant communities, interviews with media producers and senior editors, and a content analysis of ethnic newspapers. This study shows that transnational activities go beyond economics to include more social aspects and communication practices in immigrants' everyday lives.

Media Use and Acculturation of New Immigrants in the United States

“…Researchers have recently emphasized the need to examine the roles played by immigrants' uses of both native and host media in the acculturation process (e.g., Croucher, Oommen, & Steele, 2009;Lin et al, 2010;Moon & Park, 2007;Shumow, 2010). Because the use of English language media could serve as an indicator of acculturation to American society (e.g., Shoemaker et al, 1985), it is likely that new immigrants' pre-and post-immigration uses of English language media are positively associated with English proficiencies, preference to use English in interactions, and American political knowledge, which also serve as acculturation indicators.…”

Framing SARS: A Case Study in Toronto of a Mainstream Newspaper and a Chinese Ethnic Newspaper

“…Of the various immigrant ethnic groups in Canada, Chinese Canadians have the highest readership rates (Lam, 1980) and spend 41% of their media time on ethnic media (Lee & Tse, 1994) with the news that Chinese-language ethnic media cover tending toward homeland rather than local news (Lin & Song, 2006;Lin et al, 2010). In addition to transnational connections and rituals sustained through ethnic media's connection to homeland news, Chinese Canadians may be motivated to read ethnic newspapers because of the historically incomplete and negative portrayals of the Chinese in mainstream newspapers.…”

“…The ethnic press also provides a daily ritual for ethnic minorities to connect temporally to the day-to-day events in their homeland (Lin, Song, & Ball-Rokeach, 2010). In addition to transnational connections, the ethnic press acts as a local community booster and is one of the most important institutions for the maintenance of immigrants' ethnic identity (Viswanath & Arora, 2000).…”

Spanish-language immigrant media in Miami-Dade County, Florida: Discursive arenas for transnational civil societies

“…She agrees, in line with many other studies (Arnold & Schneider, ; Howley, ; Riggins, ; Viswanath & Arora, ), that ethnic media enhance community building as a balance between majority and minority culture, perform social control through their selective news coverage and advertising, and fulfill an assimilatory and informational function. Other research has examined Asian and Latino immigrant groups’ transnational activities (Lin et al, ), geo‐ethnic storytelling (Lin & Song, ) and ethnic media's role as an alternative to mainstream news channels (Moran, ). Lin et al () also looked the role ethnic newspapers play in enabling a transnational, cross‐border life in both global and local dimensions.…”

“…The primary audiences for these publications, given their immigrant status in the country where the content is being consumed, are not necessarily able to take advantage of the civic opportunities normally associated with citizenship (i.e., voting, taking part in political dialogue, running for elected office, etc.). However, given the increasingly transnational identities of immigrant communities in the 21 st century (Lin, Song, & Ball‐Rokeach, ; Shumow, ), it is important and necessary to have a better understanding of the ways in which the media being consumed by immigrants are covering issues that are transnational in scope and may potentially lead to civic activity in both home and host countries. The findings from the research are discussed in terms of significance for future research in immigrant media content and production processes, citizenship studies and the mediated functions of transnational public spheres.…”