United Nations and the News Media Data, 1968

This study consists of three data files -- Channel, Central, and Peripheral -- used in the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) project concerned with the relations between the United Nations (UN) and the news media in 50 nations in 1968. In particular, the study deals with the role of the news media in spreading information on the UN and with coverage of UN policies and activities by the press, radio, and television in these nations. The Channel File (Part 1) contains data for a total of 2,080 news organs for the press, radio, and television. Variables describe the characteristics of the news organs, such as type, place, frequency, size, language, political affiliation, estimated average circulation, and location of publication, as well as sources and issues covered. The Central File (Part 2) provides data for 13,228 news reports containing any discrete pieces of information issued during a scheduled period of observation by the UN, a UN-connected, or a UN-based outlet included in the survey. Variables describe source, languages, types of media report, size of report, UN organs mentioned, and content characteristics. The Peripheral File (Part 3) contains data for 91,195 news reports containing discrete pieces of information referring in some way to the UN system or its components or to UN affairs and events carried by organs of the press, radio, and television during a scheduled period of observation. Variables in this file describe the type, place, medium, date, frequency, format, circulation, distribution, language, and political affiliation of publication, as well as type of programming, broadcast, and network, and duration of broadcast, references to the UN, and UN organs mentioned.