The World's Next Top Model

According to Joseph Straubhaar, Globalization is an "increase in opportunities for communication, exchange of material and symbolic goods, and migration of people across national borders." The textbook also defines it as a "reducing of differences that existed between nations in time, space and culture" (Straughaar, p. 503). Globalization has become extremely potent due to the growing of technology and media. The world has transformed into a integrated market due to advertising, economics, and technology. 

One concept of globalization dealing with a result of hybridization of media products is glocalization. Glocalization involves taking an idea that was successful in one country, and then adopting that same concept in another. Glocalized products can include everything like restaurants such as McDonald's, to television shows such as American Idol.

An example of a glocalized product is the television show "American's Next Top Model". The show, which is now on its 15th cycle in America, has been adopted in over 20 countries. England, Australia, Afghanistan, Brazil, China, and  Russia are just a few of the countries which have aired their own "Next Top Model". The show has been rated number 1 in America. It has now been globalized into an international media product, being sponsored by models such as Tyra Banks. Overall, the show is now existing between different nations at a time and is combining global ideas or forces with local ones.