…Would it be easier to "develop" it?
News, as we read and see it in the newspaper, online or on tv is never objective. What is published, is part of the newspaper’s, the journalist’s and the country’s agenda. Even the International Herald Tribune, a newspaper with a “global” focus, as part of the New York Times, it’s still an American newspaper, focusing on how the world works, from an American perspective.
But nowadays we can connect globally, and publish and discuss on a global level. That’s what we are doing here, too. But platforms like this are exceptional. The IHT, besides its global audience, has a relatively small, elitist readership. So how to create a news outlet that connects people from all over the world, with a focus that goes beyond the national, and, more important, that many people want to read?
I know that asking this is like asking where the universe ends but below I have listed three examples of what I consider good news that might create global understanding and readership. They are all based in the global north, because like all journalists I am subjective and currently based in this part of the world. So examples from other places are most welcome 
Colours magazine: "The interactive platform about the rest of the world"
A four-lingual magazine, owned by fashion brand Benetton, founded by graphic designer Tibor Kalman and photographer Oliviero Toscani. Like the controversial campaigns for Benetton, the magazine goes beyond fashion. Online, users can upload content. The current issue is about dance, past themes include telenovelas, victims, HIV/Aids and luxury.
The Global Post: "Global news from around the world"
A new approach to correspondents: this website wants to “help fill the enormous void that has grown up in coverage of the world by US news organizations.” Nevertheless, the two founders are American. But unlike all other continents, the US do not have a separate header on the main page. The business model is simple: everyone can read the articles on the website, but paying members have benefits and a say in the editorial meeting. More than 50 correspondents and 125 freelancers from all over the world contribute to the website.
Metropolis: "Discovering the world through local eyes"
Metropolis is similar to the Global Post, but less high profile, more human interest. 50 video-correstpondents worldwide report on one topic per week, varying from “being in love” to “poorly employed” to “fat". Metropolis is a joint project by the Dutch public broadcaster VPRO, NGO Hivos and the department of foreign affairs. The correspondents get paid 250-500 euros per contributon.
More on this topic: Robert Stefanicki's post on the role of correspondents.
http://development.thinkaboutit.eu/think3/post/localizing_media_blessing_or_a_curse
It gets kind of disheartening this fact that every media outlet has an agenda it can be a straight-jacket to the stories that should be told, to thinking outside the box, to questioning. On the otherhand an agenda to an extent can’t be avoided, it’s human nature. I was going to suggest some “global media” but you beat me to it, feasting my eyes on Colours magazine - the dance issue! (That stuff is highly inspirational, hip hop on the subway!)Currents TV, covers good off-beat topics and something else I recently came across (they did a TV segment on Brazilian favelas, really reporting from inside them. I’ll try and find it for you.)Keep trying to think outside the box. Lift it up, shake it, deconstruct it, push boundaries if you have to or not in order to get closer to answers. Good read!
Good stuff, Hieke!
Very sexy way of bringing global issues to international agenda and also a sign of CSR by Benetton. On the other hand - how feasible it is that a private company is in charge?
@Christina: Thanks for the suggestions! Im glad a critical and original thinker like you reads my blog!
@Helena: Thanks for the compliment. As for your question: journalism can be funded in so many ways. On the other hand: both commercial- and state media can be censored. It all depends on the political and economical circumstances and the particular content. Bennetton handles it responsibly, so far so good.
I know you have in mind publications covering worldwide issues, but I’d also like to mention some that I enjoy that focus on pan-European topics: Transitions Online http://www.tol.org/client/(which I occasionally write for), covering ex-communist countries in Europe and Asia, and Eurozine http://www.eurozine.com/, which brings lots of cultural and social analyses and studies, literary essays etc. Also I find interesting Cafe Babel http://www.cafebabel.co.uk. They all successfully and in continuity focus on all these countries and their specific challenges, social phenomena and peculiarities that I feel the need to give them credit here:)
Some great ideas here and in the comments. As a former journalist, they’re very interesting to me.
The best I’ve found: the New Internationalist. Super recommended! http://www.newint.org.
Good stuff people, thanks for the links! For me, being globally infomred is one of the conditions to even start thinking about how to “develop” a country that is so far away from your own…
As mentioned information is crucial to form your opinion. And we want a real good deal of realty