Eesti ajalehtede ja ajalehelaadsete väljaannete süsteem aastatel 2004-2008

Date

2010

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Tartu Ülikool

Abstract

Description

The system of Estonian newspapers and newspaper-like publications in 2004-2008 The compilation of the list of newspapers is based on the list of publications submitted by the National Library of Estonia (NLE). To distinguish periodical publications, the characteristics to define newspapers from newspaper-like publications have not been taken into account. Hence, it was needed to select newspapers which would correspond to the characteristics of a newspaper. In current thesis, the basis of classifying newspapers is the criteria given in the book “Media Systems and Media Use” (Vihalemm 2004). The most important criterion to define newspapers from newspaper-like publications was that the publication must be issued at least once a week. Although, considering some other criterion a publication may be considered as a newspaper, the frequency of publication was determining. Similarly to the list of newspapers, the given thesis has brought out as annexes the rural municipality and town newspapers, party publications, school newspapers, agency and organisation publications, also, the newsletters and advertisement newspapers and television guides. The most thorough overview is made about rural municipality and town newspapers. While compiling the referenced lists, in addition to NLE lists, their electronic database, county websites, phone calls to rural municipality governments, schools, editorial offices, etc, were used. While defining local newspapers from national publications, a question was raised if it would be more correct to name the local newspapers as community newspapers. Naming a newspaper communal gives a broader meaning, while the definition as a local newspaper may be too narrow. The study showed that some publications have disappeared and that on the following reasons: changing the names of publications; due to the merger of local governments the publications have concentrated; smaller newspapers join the bigger; moving to the web. Comparing the state of newspapers with data of five years ago, 8 new publications have emerged. In the given thesis, comparing newspaper-like publications with the previous period was not possible due to the lack of adequate list. Therefore, only the period of 2004-2008 has been dealt. The biggest downfall of the circulation of newspapers may be seen since 2009. To January in 2010, even the circulation of relatively stable newspapers had dropped. The readership study results were relatively expected. It is logical that the older generation reads more newspapers and the young; nevertheless, tend to concentrate on the information from the internet. Comparing reading to the situation in 2004, the biggest increase was in the age group of 60-74. Yet, there is a tendency to the increase of the web usage amongst the middle-aged and older people, too. The good state of Estonian newspapers is also shown in the comparisons with other countries. The landscape of newspapers in Estonia is various even comparing to other rich European powers. The conclusion based on the results of given study is that there are no cardinal changes in Estonian media landscape during the last 5 years. Studying different systems of newspapers is impaired by the circumstance that the classifications differ internationally and internally. While National Library of Estonia considers all publications, including newspaper-like publications, as newspapers (Vihalemm 2004), the Estonian Newspaper Association only gives an overview about the members of its union. Therefore, the data collected in different international studies is often imprecise.

Keywords

bakalaureusetööd, ajakirjandus, trükiajakirjandus, ajalehed, meediaturg, meediatööstus, Eesti

Citation