Fjölmiðlun og menning - 01.08.1999, Page 29

Fjölmiðlun og menning 1999
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Introduction
People who have needed to search for statistical data about
media and culture have often found this to be a time-
consuming process, with the information dispersed and even
contradictory once it is found. Every year, Statistics Iceland
recei ves a large number of inquiries from Iceland and abroad
- from individuals, companies and official agencies - asking
about the media and cultural activities. This publication has
been compiled with the aim of meeting the obvious need for
published statistical infonnation about culture and the inedia
in Iceland.
Statistics Iceland’s reports on culture and media date back
to 1964, when Iceland joined UNESCO. Membership en-
couraged Statistics Iceland to begin collecting reports on the
activities of libraries, cinemas and theatres, concerts, radio
and television broadcasting hours and printed publications.
Reports on cultural activities were printed virtually every
year in Monthly Statistics over the period 1969-1981 and in
summarized form in the Statistical Abstract oflceland 1974
and 1984. In the course of time production of these reports
was cut back and remained very limited until recently when
action was taken to relaunch comprehensive collection of
data about culture and the media. This publication can be
considered part of that task.
The purpose of this publication is twofold. Firstly, it
serves as a reference work for anyone in need of accessible,
harmonized and sequential information about Icelandic media
and culture, either to show the historical development or for
intemational comparison. Secondly, it is envisaged as a
basic source for media researchers and cultural organizers
and planners.
In selecting material, an effort was made to present the
clearest possible picture of cultural and media activity from
one period to the next. However, this is not an exhaustive
study in economic, social or cultural terms. Some people
would presumably have preferred a different choice of
material and approach, but a project such as this is inevitably
restricted by considerations of time and space.
Various models were used for this publication. Statistics
Iceland has benefited in particular from its cooperation
within the Nordic Information Centre for Media and Com-
munication Research - NORDICOM concerning media sta-
tistical. Models have also been sought from statistical agen-
cies in other countries and numerous intemational bodies
and organizations which handle statistical information on
culture and the media. Classification and presentation of the
material has been based on intemational standards where
available, while also taking care to ensure that the presenta-
tion reflects Iceland’s own distinctive characteristics.
A highly diverse selection of material is included, com-
piled from official statistical collections, reports by official
agencies and information from companies and organiza-
tions. The bulk of the material has not been previously
published. An effort has been made to select material from as
close as possible to its original source. Previously published
material from Statistics Iceland’s statistical collections has
been amended and adapted to larger, reviewed records of
data, without this being specially mentioned in notes to the
tables.
The work is divided into 26 chapters by subject, and
includes a total of 326 tables and 52 charts. The first year of
reference varies, depending in most cases on how far back
the statistical data extend. As a rule the last year of reference
is set at 1997 and 1998, or the latest date for which statistics
were available when the publication was being completed
for printing. The weighting of material varies fTom one
chapter to another, on account of the different scope of
available sources for each topic.
Presentation of inaterial has focused on national figures,
and regional details have been restricted to save space. Most
of the statistical material consists of basic figures with totals.
For the convenience of the reader, proportional figures and
volume per capita are shown where appropriate. In other
respects the data are presented at face value; monetary sums,
for example, are shown at figures for respective years, not
adjusted to current prices. The source is stated at the bottom
of each table, while defmitions of terms and other necessary
details about the nature and scope of the figures are included
in the notes. Some tables, especially the longer ones, have
gaps in their time sequences. This may be the result of
changed definitions, lack of statistical sources for longer or
shorter periods, or simply a decision to highlight the main
features in order to save space. Readers are asked to bear this
in mind when interpreting figures from one period to an-
other. A list of main symbols used in the tables is printed on
the inside cover.
A variety of statistical information on culture and the
media which can be found in earlier Statistics Iceland pub-
lications has not been included in the present work. Particu-
lar reference is made to Monthly Statistics 1969-1981 (re-
ports on cultural activities) and 1985-1996 (on Icelandic
films, film festivals and special screenings), Statistical Ab-
stract of Iceland 1967, 1974 and 1984 (various material),
Statistical Yearbook of Iceland 1991 and onwards (book,
magazine and newspaper publishing and radio and TV
distribution systems) and Icelandic Historical Statistics,
1997 (various older material on published books and maga-
zines, and their content).
A considerable amount of material about Icelandic culture
and media not included in Statistics Iceland publications can
also be found in Nordic Statistical Yearbook (former Year-
bookofNordic Statistics), and statistical yearbooks ífom the
European Audiovisual Observatory, Statistical Yearbook,
EUROSTAT, Audio-Visual Statistics: Report 1995, ME-
DIA Salles, European Cinema Yearbook and UNESCO,
Statistical Yearbook, along witli NORDICOMpublications
on Nordic media.