Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute

Mass Media in the Societies
Press Freedom and Globalisation
The Scandinavian countries are worldwide ranked at the top in many ways. Indicators
which put these countries at the global top level include use of media, circulation, spread
of media equipment and technological infrastructure. 26 Broadcasting in Scandinavia
includes private commercial channels as well as public radio and TV stations both at local
and national levels. The public broadcasters have long-established traditions and maintain
a strong position in all these countries. The spread or use of radio and TV may be
illustrated by the following table:
Number of radio and TV receivers per 1000 inhabitants (1996) 27
Country TV Radio
Denmark 594 1145
Norway 462 917
Sweden 519 932
There is extensive spread of print media in Scandinavia. Concerning newspapers,
the Scandinavian countries are ranked with the top in the world. It is common to read more
than one newspaper a day.
Spread of daily newspapers (1996) 28
Country Number of Total Circulation per
titles circulation 1000 inhabitants
Denmark 37 1,628,000 311
Norway 83 2,578,000 590
Sweden 94 4,499,000 445
distinguished.
Another print media, books, is an area where the Scandinavian countries are
26
UNESCO, World Communication and Information Report : 1999-2000 (Paris: UNESCO, 1999), pp. 262-
271.
27
United Nations, Statistical Yearbook : Forty-fourth issue : 1997 (New York: United Nations, 2000), table
18, pp. 130-137.
28
Ibid., table 16, pp. 117-123. More recent data are available, these are used to be comparable with East
Africa below. However, these figures have been stable over time.
64