Volume 4, Number 3

Germany: Network Coverage During aYear of Change

For many, the opening of the East German borders and the fall of the Berlin Wall signified the end of the cold war. Lloyd Robertson began the 9 November 1989 "CTV National News" with the announcement: "After twenty-eight years, the East German government is throwing open its borders to the West, turning the Berlin Wall into a relic of the cold war and possibly opening a whole new page in European history." Similarly, Terrence McKenna opened the 15 November 1989 "Journal" with: "The virtual destruction of the Berlin Wall is only the most dramatic symbol of the changes that are rocking the communist world and promising to redraw the boundaries of Europe. For the first time, people are talking seriously about the end of the cold war, the end of a divided Germany, even the end of communism."

The events brought about swift change and the media were watching. In particular, they were watching the evolution toward the unification of Germany. Almost immediately on national television news there was discussion on the costs and benefits of unification. Questions centred on the impact of changes on the political, economic, social, military and international spheres.

Those interested in international politics and mass communication consistently remark that the media has a significant role in forming public perceptions of international issues.1 They argue that the more distant the event is from our cultural and national boundaries, the more likely we are to depend and rely upon the media to form opinions about those issues. Given the role of the media in framing international issues, how did the Canadian national news networks report unification?

This issue of On Balance will examine CBC and CTV national news coverage of Germany from the opening of its borders to political unification (October 1, 1989 to October 3, 1990).

DEBATE ON UNIFICATION EMPHASIZED IN COVERAGE

The single most-discussed topic during the year of change was unification which comprised over one-third of CBC and over one-quarter of CTV statements on Germany for the year.

Political Aspects of Unification Presented Favourably

Figure A shows the distribution of attention to unification on political, economic, military, international and social issues. Of this coverage, the impact on politics comprised over one

"... just the idea that they could leave it if they want to has given them a whole new outlook on life."

fifth of CTV and almost one fifth of CBC attention.

Click here to view Figure A: Coverage of Unification Issues

Over half of CBC and almost half of CTV attention to politics was neutral. Much of this coverage focused on East Germans now being able to visit the West as a result of the border openings, and East German reforms resulting from the political changes.

Of the political assessments, almost twice as many positive as negative statements were made. For example, regarding East Germans travelling to the West, both networks provided 8 times as many positive statements as negative ones. One such instance occurred on 10 November 1989 when Lloyd Robertson introduced an ABC story by John Lawrence: "But just the idea that they could leave it if they want to has given them a whole new outlook on life." John Lawrence continued the theme by interviewing East Germans who crossed over: "A father and son celebrating the unexpected freedom to travel to the other side of the wall. The people are talking about how easy it is now to cross over to West Berlin. 'You don't need a passport,' the woman says, 'only your identity card. It's easy.'"

The coverage on political reforms was also substantially more positive than negative; 7 in 10 described the positive outcomes of the events. On 7 November 1989, for example, CTV's Peter Murphy reported: "East Germany's communist rulers today made their biggest political concession so far. They presented plans in parliament to share power with non-communists in a new cabinet, and the parliament voted unanimously to approve experiments in private enterprise and free elections."

Similarly, on 17 November 1989, Knowlton Nash reported on "The National": "The country's Prime Minister, Hans Modrow, called the changes which have been taking place irreversible, and he spoke of a Germany with greater possibility of reunification." In that same story, reporter Paul Workman restated the positive effect the changes were having on East Germany: "East Germany has now issued 10 million border passes. That's two-thirds of the entire population. Most are coming to shop, only a few coming to stay. The government's reforms seem to be working. And today it announced new reforms, changes that communist leader, Egon Krenz, called a revolution."

CTV Provides More Negative Statements on Economics

Economic issues also comprised a significant proportion of network attention, at almost one quarter of CBC and

Almost one third of network attention examined what the future would be like if the two Germanies were to unite.

one fifth of CTV attention. While CBC provided balanced arguments about the economics of unification, 7 out of 10 CTV statements statements about the issue were negative.

For example, on 22 March 1990 "CTV National News," Roger Smith reported on the economic problems surrounding the unification of the two Germanies: "Even with the prospect of quick reunification, about 1500 East Germans are still leaving every day to settle in the West. But the joyous reception for the first arrivals last summer has turned sour as West Germans face the cost of reunification. This woman worries about higher taxes and increasing competition for scarce jobs and apartments. And as East Germans flock through the Berlin Wall to shop, there are fears that a promise to exchange their marks for West German ones will fuel inflation and weaken the currency."

On CBC, positive statements centered on East Germany going to a market economy, and German strength in the economic community. For example, in a "Journal" interview on 1 March 1990, Gordon Craig, professor of Humanities at Stanford University stated: "There's no doubt about it, Germany will be a stronger part of the European

"On CBC, positive statements centered on East Germany going to a market economy, and German strength in the economic community."

community. The German currency is pretty well the currency of Western Europe already. No, there's no doubt at all that Germany will be a stronger economic power, but it will be working within the European community."

The majority of the critical attention to economics focused on employment problems in East Germany as a result of the events. For example, on 12 September 1990, CBC's Joe Schlesinger translated an East German woman: "'Then, at least,' says Mariam Winter, 'we knew that we had a job to come to every day.' At the East Berlin coffee maker plant where Winter works, 400 employees, a third of the work force, have already been laid off, and at least 400 more will have to go, if this factory is to survive." Later in the story Schlesinger reports a similar theme on East German farms: "'People here are very disillusioned,' says Maria Bentine. Bentine is the manager of a co-op farm at Geswalde, 120 kilometres southeast of Berlin. Under the Communists, the hundred farm workers here were relatively well off. Now the co-op is just about broke. As in the factory, there are simply too many workers and too little machinery to allow the farm to survive in a free market economy. It costs the co-op twice as much to shear a sheep than its wool will fetch on the market. Under the Communist regime, the state bought everything the farm could produce at guaranteed prices. Now the co-op is reducing its herds, because it loses money on every pig it sells."

Networks Provide Balanced Attention to the Military

Attention to the military comprised 13 percent of CBC and 16 percent of CTV coverage on unification. Of the attention to the military, one third was neutral. Of statements which provided assessments, slightly more were negative than positive.

For instance, Gorbachev's position that the Soviet Union did not want a

"...at least we know that we had a job to come to every day."

unified Germany was balanced with Manfred Woerner's statements on cooperation. For example, in a 14 July 1990 "National," Anna Maria Tremonti discussed the role of NATO in the negotiations for unifying Germany.

Anna Maria Tremonti: The new Germany will belong to NATO. Woerner told reporters he understands the Soviet anxiety over a more powerful Germany in the Western alliance, but he argued it's misplaced.

Manfred Woerner: ... that the membership of a united Germany in our alliance would increase stability and would not be a threat of any kind to the Soviet Union.

Anna Maria Tremonti: The Soviets continue to oppose NATO involvement in a new Germany.

CBC's Coverage of International Consequences More Negative Than CTV

Coverage of international ramifications of a unified Germany was presented in 6 percent of CBC and 5 percent of CTV

"There are simply too many workers and too little machinery to allow the farm to survive in a free market economy."

attention. Over half of CBC and almost half of CTV statements this issue were neutral and factual. Of the remainder, almost three quarters of CBC statements were negative, while on CTV there were only slightly more negative than positive statements.

One issue to which both networks gave more negative attention was how Germany's past in international affairs might be repeated in the future. For example, on 30 June 1990, Terrilyn Joe

"... there are fears that reunification will recreate the old Germany that carried out the holocaust of the Second World War."

introduced a "CTV National News" story on economic union: "In Israel, there are fears that reunification will recreate the old Germany that carried out the holocaust of the Second World War." On the 1 June 1990 "Journal" Henry Kissinger argued: "It's a Germany that is conducting its policy based entirely on its own perception of its own interest. That, we have learned in this century, is the most dangerous Germany."

CBC Provides More Neutral Coverage On Social Issues

There were some differences in the two networks' coverage of social issues. Social issues comprised 9 percent of CBC and 7 percent of CTV attention. While on CBC the neutral social effects of change were presented in over one third of the statements, on CTV, neutral coverage comprised one-fifth of the statements. In their statements assessing the social effects of change, both networks provided slightly more positive than negative statements.

Social issues were addressed through stories about reunited families and East and West Germans attitudes to each other. For example, on 10 November 1989, Philip Winslow reported on the "CTV National News": "They came to touch the wall together, a kind of reunion of strangers, and the mood was euphoric." Similarly, on 12 November 1989 Claude Adams reported on "Sunday Report": "West Berliners celebrated the day as if it were the merging of a divided city. Visitors from the East who poured in through the historic Potsdamer Platz received a welcome that brought many to tears. Mayors of East and West Berlin shook hands."

General Statements on Unification

Almost one third of network attention examined what the future would be like if the two Germanies were to unite. The majority of this discussion revolved around general arguments for and against unification, such as the issue of the time frame for unification, German borders and the impact on East Germany.

While almost half of CBC's unification coverage was neutral, only one

"They came to touch the wall together, a kind of reunion of strangers, and the mood was euphoric."

quarter of CTV's attention was neutral. Of the coverage assessing the general pros and cons of unification, CBC provided more balanced coverage than did CTV. CBC gave only slightly more positive than negative statements, while CTV's statements were almost two to one in favour of unification.

Much of the positive coverage reflected international agreements which supported unification. For example, on 12 September 1990, Lloyd Robertson reported: "The four leading allies of the Second World War took an historic step today, clearing the way for East and

"...even the Soviet Union went along..."

West Germany to again become one country. Along with the two Germanies, they signed a treaty approving reunification of the country they split apart at the end of the war. Despite objections, even the Soviet Union went along, saying the new Germany has learned the lessons of history."

NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF COMMUNIST AND NAZI HISTORY HIGHLIGHTED

German history was featured in almost one tenth of total network attention. Within the history discussions, almost half of CBC and half of CTV's attention was neutral and factual. Of the remainder, however, 7 out of 10 statements on CBC and 8 out of ten statements on CTV focused on the negative aspects of German history.

The negative attention ranged from Nazism to Stalinism and from the STAZI to the Berlin wall. Angela Stent, a political scientist from Georgetown University, remarked on a 2 October 1990 "Journal" interview: "So, they're going to have to learn first of all what it means to be German, and I think in that process the East German population, the 16 million new Germans, if you like, that are coming into this union on Wednesday, will really have to come to terms with its doubly dark past. They have yet to come to terms with the Nazi past, and then they have to come to terms with their communist past." Similarly, on a 7 November 1989 "Journal" interview, Franz Loeser, an East German academic, told Barbara Frum: "The situation in East Germany is like this: for 40 years this Stalinist dictatorship has suppressed and indoctrinated, and degraded the people."

On 12 December 1989, Lloyd Robertson introduced a story on the STAZI: "Perhaps the most dramatic example of the changes in East Germany can be found at the headquarters of the secret state police in Leipzig. It was from there that the authorities terrorized the citizens. Now the citizens are in control, and, if anything, it's the authorities in terror, in terror that evidence will turn up to implicate them in crimes against the people. John Lawrence, of ABC News, reports.

John Lawrence: For more than a week now, anti-government demonstrators have been occupying part of the headquarters of the secret police in Leipzig, once the instrument of state terror in East Germany. Since the 1950s the State Security Police, better known as the STAZI, held the population in a grip of fear, using imprisonment and torture."

In a 19 February 1990 "CTV National News" story, Bert Quint of CBS News reminded viewers of the history of the Berlin Wall: "The East German state spent a fortune building and maintaining this wall, and shooting people who tried to cross it."

NETWORKS RELY ON PUBLIC AND ACADEMICS FOR STATEMENTS

Almost two-thirds of CBC and three quarters of CTV statements on Germany originated with reporters or anchors filing the story. Figure B shows that of the remainder of statements, on CBC the most comment came from the academic community, comprising over one-quarter of coverage. In contrast, academics' statements comprised only 6 percent of CTV coverage. Statements from the general public, on the other hand, comprised over one tenth of CBC and almost one-tenth of CTV sources' statements.

Click here to view Figure B: Affiliation of Sources

Both networks provided more statements from East German government officials and politicians than from West German politicians. However, CTV relied more on government sources than did CBC. For example, on CTV, East German government officials received 13 percent of the coverage, whereas on CBC they received 5 percent of the attention.

Of note is the finding that journalists were used as sources in almost 10 percent of both networks' coverage. In those cases, a journalist did not file a story but was interviewed by another reporter.

CTV'S COVERAGE MORE DEPENDENT ON EVENTS

As Figure C shows, coverage of major events such as border openings, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the political and economic union of the two Germanies, accounted for 12 percent of CBC and 16 percent of CTV's overall coverage. Almost one third of CBC and over one third of CTV's news items on events were on the fall of the Berlin Wall. The opening of the border comprised one fifth of CBC and almost one quarter of CTV's coverage of events.

Click here to view Figure C: Genreal Story Information

Similarly, one fifth of both networks' coverage involved reporting process issues, such as protests, celebrations, meetings between leaders, and speeches.

Interestingly, the elections held in October 1989 and March 1990 comprised only one percent of CBC and three percent of CTV overall attention.

Discussions about political leaders such as Honecker or Bush, and prominent personalities, such as skater Kattarina Witt, comprised 6 percent of CBC and 5 percent of CTV attention.

Attention to Germany Peaks in Fall of 1989

Predictably, news coverage given to Germany peaked with the most obvious symbol of change, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. 18 percent of CBC and 16 percent of CTV overall attention to Germany was reported in October of 1989. This period saw border openings, the mass exodus from East Germany and the removal of Eric Honecker from office. In November, when the wall was torn down, network attention increased to 29 percent of both networks' coverage over the year. By December, coverage dropped substantially to 12 and 13 percent, respectively, of CBC and CTV coverage. Attention to Germany has not increased since that time.

EASTERN LIFESTYLES EMPHASIZED

Reports of East and West Germans' living conditions and backgrounds were presented in 18 percent of CBC and 17 percent of CTV overall coverage. 9 out of every 10 statements made about living conditions, attitudes and freedoms were about East Germany. [This finding marks a significant change in coverage. Past research found that international coverage tends to downplay the human face of eastern bloc nations. See for example, Robert Hackett, "Coups, Earthquakes and Hostages? Foreign News on Canadian Television" Canadian Journal of Political Science, 1989, 22:4:809-825; Barry Zwicker, War, Peace and the Media (Toronto: Sources, 1984).]

In covering East German lifestyles, half of CBC's and almost half of CTV's reports consisted of simply describing living conditions. For example, on a 13

"Everybody lied to each other....We faked enthusiasm and they faked warm feeling toward the population."

November 1989 "Journal," Brian Stewart began with the following opening: "Even in moments of crisis, there are always the backyard areas: the small towns, the countryside, where life goes on to timeless rhythms with no great fuss. And in East Germany many people are making that crucial decision whether to leave or stay very calmly, well away from the turmoil of Berlin, and the street demonstrations."

Of the remaining statements, almost twice as many CBC and CTV statements provided critical commentary on East German living conditions. Some of these statements focused on the difficult conditions in the past. A professor commented in an 1 October 1990 "Journal" story: "Everybody lied to each other. We put up, we did, we, we faked enthusiasm and they faked warm feeling toward the population. We faked working, they faked paying us with money. I think the whole thing was sort of absurd theatre." Similarly, CTV's Philip Winslow reported on 12 November 1989: "For most people in the East, life is, life is fairly drab, and that is the main thing, is just transforming their own lives and escaping from the steel-ringed prison they've been in for nearly 30 years."

Of note is the distinction made in the coverage of East Germany between communism and socialism. While both networks clearly presented negative coverage of communism, coverage of socialism was more favourable than unfavourable. For example, on 7 October 1989, CTV's Roger Smith stated: "But in this street corner debate, even those who most proudly defend socialism supported reforms that didn't go too far towards capitalism."

Despite the negative reports on how East Germans lived under communism, many stories reported that the East Germans' quality of life would decrease with the wall coming down. For example, on 10 September 1989, Allen Abel of CBC provided this analysis: "There may be millions more out of work before a new East German economy can be built from the wreckage of the old; more pain, more frustration." A translated statement from a man on the street followed: "I work on the black market. I worked for years, but now that's all I have. If it isn't enough, I break a few windows and get what I need." Later in the story Abel described the life of a circus performer: "Eduardo the clown spent four years at circus school in Moscow, learning his trade. But when this show is over he'll have to pack up his poodle and head home: to Havana, Cuba." Eduardo gave his story through an interpreter: "Very sad. Very sad. Because many people will be without work. Last year the circus was full. And now the people don't come...The people are a little like crazy. Buying many things. For example, a new refrigerator. It has to be a certain brand. They don't want just any brand. Everything. Clothing, this, that. I think it has great influence on the closing of the circus."

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I have read copies of your January and February editions. The concept behind both the newsletter and the Archive are great. This type of material is something that has been missing for some time. It helps put things in perspective.

Having said that, I was somewhat disappointed in the analysis made in "The Changing Television News Agenda," in 1990: A Year in Review. Specifically, I disagree with the conclusions drawn with regard to the media as a reflection of public opinion. Any pollster will tell you that a given survey reflects opinion at a particular time and not any other time. The Macleans/Decima poll was taken in November, 1990, well after Meech Lake and some time after Oka. The GST legislation was before Parliament at the

"The concept behind both the newsletter and the archive are great."

time and was a primary topic for individuals and the media for that period (November).

Naturally in November, the GST signified top of mind concern for the greatest number of Canadians. If the poll was taken in June, Meech Lake might have been Number 1 and if taken in late August, the same might be said of Oka. Therefore I disagree with the remark "...it is clear that television does not mirror the public's concerns." That may or may not turn out to be true but it cannot be determined from the limited source used.

Peggy Hobart
Issues Analyst

METHODOLOGY

Results are based on census samples of 190 "National," 40 "Journal," 2 "Venture," and 2 "Sunday Report" stories as well as 226 "CTV National News" stories for a year commencing October 1, 1989.

All stories appearing during the year were coded representing a total population rather than a random sample of stories.

Four researchers were employed in coding the news stories. The researchers were selected on the basis of their differing political views. To assess the clarity of the research instrument and measure consistency, tests of inter-coder reliability were conducted throughout the procedure. A high level of intercoder reliability (.79) was obtained. Any disagreements in assessments by researchers were discussed, and the rating was changed until consensus was reached on all stories.

Further information or details on the coding design and methods used may be obtained by contacting The National Media Archive.

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Last Modified: Wednesday, October 20, 1999.