A Correlation Analysis of International Newspaper Coverage and International Economic, Communication, and Demographic Relationships

Abstract

This study attempts to develop a general theory about the relationship between the extent of international news coverage and the level of international economic and communication relations in various countries. The study further attempts to apply this model to individual nations by correlating their patterns of international news reporting with their patterns of international economic, communication, and demographic relationships. Results do not indicate a correlation between amounts of international news coverage and the trade and communication variables. Findings indicate that, on the global level, international news reporting is not uniformly related to other international activities. The reasons for this are traced to four contrasting interaction patterns operating within individual nations.