The End of the Cold War: Its Impact on International News Coverage in Two U.S. Newspapers

Abstract

Abstract : This study compares Cold War and post-Cold War international news coverage in two newspapers: the New York Times and the Arizona Republic. A content analysis of 1,083 international news articles from two composite weeks for both publications in 1977 (Cold War) and 1997 (post-Cold War) provided data that revealed an overall reduction in international news articles published in both newspapers during the post-Cold War study period. Research data indicated a 26.5% drop in international news articles published in the New York Times from the 1977 to the 1997 study periods and a decrease of 20.3% in the Arizona Republic for the same timeframe. The study also found that the average length of New York Times international news articles increased 28% from 9.98 paragraphs in 1977 to 13.94 paragraphs in 1997. Conversely, study data revealed that the Arizona Republic reduced its average international news article length by 27% in the post-Cold War study period. The study also suggests that the percentage of four paragraph or less international articles climbed from 11% to 52% in the post-Cold War period. Study data revealed noteworthy changes in where both publications placed international articles from the Cold War to the post-Cold War study periods. The New York Times placed 25% less international articles on its front page in the post-Cold War study period, while the Arizona Republic saw a 50% reduction in front page placement of international news in the post-Cold War period. Also, the study indicated that New York Times experienced a 17% increase in the portion of international articles appearing in its business section in the post-Cold War period.