Comparing Event Flows -- The New York Times and the Times of London: Conceptual Issues and Case Studies

摘要

This paper discusses some divergent opinions as to the nature, scope, and problems involved in the area of research commonly referred to as event analysis. We have chosen as a vehicle for discussion the comparison of two sources of international event data. They are the New York Times and The Times of London, both prestige newspapers. The World Event/Interaction Survey has been maintaining The Times of London as a secondary source of international events since January 1, 1969, in addition to the main New York Times collection which began on January 1, 1966. The overlapping three-year period from January 1, 1969 through December 31, 1971, constitutes the time span for the comparison. The event records are identical in their codified form and the criteria used in their compilation are the same. All that differs are the substance and details of the events. Thus one need only compare the relative amount of attention given to particular topics, arenas of interaction or episodes in international affairs in order to arrive at conclusions as to the differences between the two sources. The problem is to compare these two sources noting their differences as to amounts and types of information.