U.S. Gatekeepers and the new world information order: Journalistic qualities and editorial positions

In a national survey, this study examined how U.S. newspaper editors responded to the Issues surrounding the new world information order debate at UNESCO regarding the form and content of news flow at the international level. The findings indicate that many U.S. newspaper editors firmly opposed the demands that might alter the free flow structure of news traffic among countries, or that could compromise the independence of the American press from external interference in the international communication arena. They were, however, more receptive to the criticism concerning the technical deficiency of American news media coverage of foreign countries. The editors’ responses to the NWIO issues appeared to be a function of their professional training and political ideology. Among other things, those editors who were liberal with better foreign language training tended to be more sympathetic to the demand for an equal and balanced news flow.