Global News Flow in the 90s

1
Global News Flow in the 90s

• A really big cooperative
• research project

2
Goals

• Update previous studies of the media-constructed
  world.
• Assess changes in conceptual maps following end
  of the cold war.
• Examine role of new players, new technologies.

3
Goals

• Consider role of women as reporters and as
  newsmakers.
• Test various new complaints, assertions,
  hypotheses.

4
Background

• Earlier UNESCO-sponsored study.
• NWICO-related assertions and lingering questions.
  
• Steady flow of related studies in 1980s and 90s.

5
Final participants (46)

• USA Argentina Brazil Cuba Peru
  Venezuela Austria Belgium Cyprus Denmark
  Finland Germany Greece Ireland Norway
  Portugal Turkey UK Spain Armenia
  Bulgaria Estonia Hungary Romania Russia
  Slovenia Ukraine Benin

6
Final participants (46)

• Gambia Cote dIvoire Kenya Nigeria
  Senegal South Africa Iran Israel Kuwait
  Lebanon Australia China India Indonesia
  Japan Malaysia New Zealand Thailand

7
Study design

• Simple quantitative design with emphasis on
  reliability.
• Interpretation of design left to individual
  country teams.
• Variables based on older studies, new questions.

8
Study design

• Two weeks in September, 1995, selected.
• One major event (UN Womens Conference in China)
  included.
• Several unpredictable disruptive events expected.
  

9
Preliminary results

• Traditional news values proximity, trade,
  politics, economics still dominant.
• One or two blockbuster stories daily, often
  disruptive. Origin varies from day to day.
• Sports and economics basis of regular coverage.

10
Preliminary results

• U.S. is news superpower.
• Decline of global news agencies increase in
  reporting by medias own resources.
• Rise of new girls network.
• Colonial ties apparent in Africa, not in Asia or
  Latin America.

11
The new world of the news

• One or two global events, often disruptive, short
  term.
• Routine politics, economics, sports,
  entertainment.
• Regionalism.
• National interest or involvement.
• US as unique news super power.