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This paper presents a case study of online learning. It is based on the researcher’s participation in an inter-university collaborative module at two higher education institutions in South Africa and the United States from August to December 2001. The paper addresses the advantages and disadvantages of the online learning environment and learning in a Virtual Classroom. It provides a critical interpretation of the virtual classroom experienced in this collaboration between institutions. It finds that there are benefits from applying this technology in educational practices and programs particularly in the African context where a large majority of school-leaving learners have little or no access to higher education. However, it also expounds the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) initiative to produce ICT in schools throughout Africa to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals on education in developing countries.

In an attempt to interrogate the usefulness and applicability of theory in the realm of international media organisation in society, the article demonstrates the evolution in theoretical construction. It outlines the critical political economy approach drawn on by various theorists of political economy of the mass media -- including Mosco, Schudson, Golding and Murdock. It seeks to illuminate the relevance of this integrated approach to theorising global media in local context (or 'glocalisation') and hence, the also reciprocal relationship of media organisations to society. For this purpose it introduces the case study of the Reuters global news agency in South Africa. An extended case method, which is especially relevant to an integrated theoretical approach, is used to present the so-called adaptations at the Reuters and other news organisations in the face of a globally transforming media environment. The extended case method advances a 'reflexive' (i.e. interpretive) approach, which works well with critical political economy. A critical political economy is an integrated theoretical approach that draws on various streams of political economy and cultural studies. Furthermore, it sees the integration or cross-pollination of various social science disciplines including sociology, international relations, political science, journalism, and cultural studies in researching the media institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]