Soviet media in the age of glasnost

Abstract

This paper reports a content analysis of Pravda, the chief organ of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party, and Vremya, the main evening news program of Soviet television, in early 1987. The analysis included a range of descriptive variables such as geographic location, main topic, source, etc., as well as variables appropriate to the concept of glasnost or openness and coverage of the United States. The quantitative analysis and supporting qualitative analysis indicated some changes in Soviet news media, particularly in television, but criticism of Soviet officials and activities is still limited, and coverage of the United States is uniformly critical. Glasnost may be revolutionary by Soviet standards, but Western readers and viewers will find Soviet media in the age of glasnost more like Soviet media in the old days than Western media. Western readers and viewers are, therefore, cautioned against expecting Western-style news reporting and criticism.