The Jeremiad Over Journalism

Conclusion
This section has shown that the American economic model has held considerably sway over
European countries since the end of World War II. The economic aid accompanying the Marshall
Plan played a pivotal role in the 1950‘s and the economic incentives tied to deregulation and
privatization proved attractive during the 1980‘s. The late 1970‘s, however, were characterized by
the second crest of Americanization receding based domestic political and economic problems.
From the late 1980‘s a resurgence of Americanization and the commercialization accompanying
this process has, nonetheless, had important consequences for the Danish tele-communications
market which has been opened up to domestic and foreign competition as was also the case for the
Danish television industry. The Danish government, however, has since 1970 countered the effects
of commercialization with direct media subsidies to the press, radio and television. The result
according to available research is an increase in cultural and debate coverage along with an increase
in the amount of news stories when combining all news outlets. A decline in original news articles
produced by the press has, however, declined slightly between 1999 and 2008, but still 70 percent
of the original news stories produced in Denmark originate with the press. It therefore seems that
the consequences of commercialization, the monetarization of relationships, has been curtailed
somewhat by direct and indirect Danish media subsidies and the professionalism of Danish
journalists.
3.3 Americanization and Technology
―There is no doubt that the process of homogenization is also connected with technological
innovation,‖ writes Hallin and Mancini and adds, ―changes in television technology, for one thing,
clearly played an important role in disrupting the existing media structure by facilitation cross-
national broadcasting and the mulitiplication of channels.‖ 296
Along with diplomacy, strategy, economy and culture, the role of technology play an important part
in discussions about Americanization of Danish society in general, and journalism specifically,
from the late 1960‘s and forward. As van Elteren notes, "There are images and products,
technologies and practices, that have historically been (and sometimes still are) closely identified
296 Hallin and Mancini, Comparing Media Systems. Three Models of Media and Politics. Page 260.
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