Characteristics of science coverage in Soviet Estonian newspaper Rahva Hääl
Abstract
Description
This study has been exploring the characteristics of science coverage in the Soviet Estonian
newspaper Rahva Hääl. It was especially interested how the ideological control exerted on
both science and the media manifests itself in the science articles.
In a socialist society, the media was an important instrument of social construction, ‘a
collective organizer’. Rahva Hääl was the official newspaper of the local Communist Party
and hence ranked high in the hierarchy of political control and ideological canonization. On
the political level, science was seen as important driver of progress. The need for a strong
connection between science and production was constantly emphasized.
These aspects become evident also in the few previous studies looking at science coverage in
a socialist media. A recent study by Bauer et al. (2006) comparing the science coverage in
Bulgaria and Great Britain concluded that the science coverage in Bulgarian media depended
on the current policies of the ruling Communist Party. The news items were overwhelmingly
positive and laudatory. Science was presented as an unquestioned benefactor of the society.
The trends in the intensity of coverage were found to follow similar patterns both in Bulgaria
and UK. The underlying ideological message was also seen by Kirpal & Ilsmann (2004) who
analyzed science programs in the 1970s DDR. Most contributions included political
statements. The goal of the programs was education, not entertainment, the authors conclude.
This study looked at the science coverage of Rahva Hääl in 1960 and 1980, combining
quantitative and qualitative analysis. Quantitative content analysis gave us the basic
parameters of science coverage. There is on average one science item per two news pages but they tend to be short. The articles almost exclusively deal with Soviet topics, outside voices
are very rare. Technology is the most prominent area of science, mostly due to extensive
coverage of space exploration. The articles often lack a well-defined news motivation. A clear
trend towards centralization and institutionalization can be seen when comparing 1960 and
1980.
Space coverage forms a special part of the coverage with its own distinct characteristics.
Especially the achievements of 1960 are used to celebrate the Soviet system in general. The
articles actively engage in ideological construction; language is used to prescribe the
meanings of events; a multitude of voices is constructed to create coherence of the message.
Other science articles also engage in constructing the image of a model Soviet citizen:
modest, diligent, dedicated and young.
The primary role of the science is seen to be the creation of new products. However, rather
than writing articles about actual results, the items tend to portray work in progress. Science is
not explained in the articles.
Due to the high level of control and canonization of Rahva Hääl, many characteristics of the
science coverage are not unique to science stories but characterize all articles regardless of
their topic. The used discourses strongly reflect the guiding principle of Soviet media and
science as formulated by the party.
This study has only roughly mapped the characteristics of Soviet science coverage. Further,
more detailed research is needed and this study has identified many new questions.
Keywords
magistritööd