International News Selection: A Comparative Analysis of Negative News in the Washington Post and the Daily Times of Nigeria

Abstract

This comparative study of the Washington Post and the Daily Times of Nigeria examines the factor of cultural variability in international news selection. Specifically, the study examines whether in an individualistic culture, that is, the United States, and in a collectivist culture, that is, Nigeria, newspapers focus on news about individuals, or about groups, or about events, and whether such focus is negative or positive. The results indicate that both newspapers carried more neutral news than negative news. Results also suggest that group needs, values, and goals take precedence over individual needs, values, and goals in the U.S. newspaper as well as in the Nigerian newspaper.

Keywords:

• International News Flow Negative News Western Press Third World Press Individualist Culture Collectivist Culture New World Information Communication Order (NWICO)