No news from the East? Predicting patterns of coverage of Eastern Europe in selected German newspapers

Abstract

Aim of the article is to expand the scope of news flow parameters that can be predicted from country characteristics and to propose an enhanced explanatory model for news flow prediction. Based on the theory of newsworthiness, an unconsidered determinant of international news coverage is identified: it is hypothesized that, next to the generalized interest in high-status and close countries, there is an issue-bound interest in some countries that predicts coverage. To test the model, the study investigated the coverage of Eastern European nations in 2006 in German newspapers. Results showed that, beyond mere amount of coverage, permanence of coverage of a country, topical variability and variability in journalistic presentation (genres) of a country can be predicted from a country’s status and proximity. Additionally, it was shown that issue-bound interest is a key determinant of the amount and continuity of coverage a country receives.