This paper seeks to reassess the potential of new media in transnational political communication. It questions whether a wide availability of online news sources offering diverse views could become useful means in overcoming national (cultural and geographic) barriers in reporting about global political matters. The discussion here moves on several levels of analysis. First, it draws attention to the impact of the Internet on political communication. By relying on results obtained from research studies in international (European) news communication, it also stresses the significance of contextual factors (local political, economic and cultural conditions) in transnational political communication. The paper proposes that the Internet and social media applications (blogs, social forums) may help journalists as well as citizens to retrieve background information on complex issues of global character. Simultaneously, such online communication where common interests of citizens are recognized and addressed in less formal manner may help different audiences to develop a sense of transnational understanding which could enrich news and views communicated. On the other hand, this paper also stresses that there is no universal culture of communication; instead, all characteristics of communication are related to different political, economic, social and cultural conditions where these traditions, values and norms have developed and are sustained.

Stebint šiuolaikines žiniasklaidos vystymosi tendencijas, imama abejoti, ar ji apskritai pajėgi sukurti viešąją erdvę, būti ta visuomenės gyvenimo arena, kurioje susikerta viešieji interesai ir gimsta pilietiniai sprendimai. Žiniasklaidos tyrėjai taip pat negali pasakyti, kiek politinių naujienų turėtų būti kasdien pranešama, kad visuomenei būtų suteikta pakankamai pilietinės kompetencijos, o ir politinių naujienų kiekis dar nieko nesako apie jų kokybę (Norris 2000, 27). Iš kitos pusės, žiniasklaidos vaidmuo formuojant visuomenės politines nuostatas ir nustatant socialinio gyvenimo prioritetus pagrįstas empiriniais tyrimais. Todėl, nors ir įvertinant visą grėsmę, neatsisakoma idėjos, jog būtina siekti, kad žiniasklaida suteiktų visuomenei kiek įmanoma daugiau ir įvairiapusiškesnės praktinės informacijos, kaip vienas ar kitas politinis sprendimas gali asmeniškai paveikti kiekvieno piliečio gyvenimą. Manoma, jog tai savaime skatins norą dalyvauti formuojant šalies ar europinę politiką. Todėl pripažįstama, jog atviros viešosios erdvės modelis – tai bet kurios demokratinės visuomenės siekiamybė.

The primary goal of this issue is to broaden our understanding about the scope and characteristics of diverse challenges that media is facing in rapidly changing economic, technological, social and cultural conditions. The scale, the scope and the speed of change that our societies are going through are indeed striking. We live in the times of diverse transformations, crises, devaluations and disillusionments. Our closest surrounding realities are becoming very ambiguous and uncertain. We do not have adequate social models and metaphors that could explain the consequences of changing economic conditions, technological influences and new social relationships have on how we communicate, whom we trust, what we relate to and who we keep in close touch with.