Fjölmiðlun og menning - 01.05.2003, Side 46

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Media and Culture 2003
Introduction
This volume is the second report from Statistics Iceland
entitled Media and Culture. As its name indicates, the work
presents figures on the activities of the mass media and
cultural affairs. In addition, there are various statistics on
telecommunications and computers, the Internet and
multimedia. Material published in the first Media and
Culture, in 1999, has been substantially augmented and
improved in a number of respects.
The purpose of this publication is twofold. Firstly, it
serves as a reference work for anyone in need of accessible,
harmonised and sequential information about Icelandic
media and culture, either to show the historical development
or for international comparison. Secondly, it is envisaged as
a basic source for media researchers and cultural organizers
and planners.
The work is divided into 25 chapters, plus an appendix,
containing more than 500 tables and almost 150 figures.
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 2001 and 2002, or the latest date
for which statistics were available when the publication
was being completed for printing. The weighting of material
varies from one chapter to another, on account of the
different scope of available sources for each topic. Some of
this material has never been published before.
Media and Culture is now available both as a book and
CD-ROM. As general practice, the time series of tables and
figures contained in the book are based on the period from
1991 to such time as most recent figures are available, while
on the CD-ROM the time series extend as far back in time
as statistical data permit. For the readers’ convenience,
mention is made in square brackets below the tables in the
book when there is a longer time series, or if the presentation
and classification of data differs on the CD-ROM.
The book’s contents derive from a variety of sources: the
Statistics Iceland databases, reports from public institutions
and information from enterprises and organisations.
Statistics Iceland’s reports on culture and media date back
to 1964, when Iceland joined UNESCO. Membership
encouraged 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 1967, 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 in 1996
to relaunch comprehensive collection of data about culture
and the media.
The aim was to have the current work present as clear a
picture as possible of media and cultural activities through
the years. This is, however, by no means an exhaustive
assessment, neither in a social, cultural or economic sense.
Every effort has been made to select material as close as
possible to the original source. Previously published material
has been improved and corrected in accordance with
additional and revised data without this being expressly
indicated.
The classification of material is based on international
standards wherever these exist, while care has been taken to
have the presentation of material reflect specifically
Icelandic conditions. Presentation of material has focused
on national figures, while regional details are more restricted.
Most of the statistical material consists of basic figures with
totals. For the convenience of the reader, proportional and
per capita figures 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 definitions 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 comparing
figures from different periods. A list of the main symbols
used in the tables is printed on the inside cover.
The following sections provide brief accounts of the
material in each chapter of the work (both the printed
version and the CD-ROM).
/. lndustries. This chapter contains material on various
operating items of media, telecommunications and cultural
activities, such as turnover, manpower, wages and salaries,
and profits, and the significance of these sectors in GDP. Up
until 1997, industrial sectors are here classified in accordance
with the ISIC standard, which differs considerably from the
classification used elsewhere in this book. Figures from
1998 and onwards, however, are presented in accordance
with the ISAT industrial sector classification. This makes
comparison of figures prior to and after 1998 difficult.
II. Enterprises. This chapter includes, on the one hand, a
summary of the largest enterprises in media, tele-
communications and related activities, based on their 2001
turnover, and on the other hand, a picture of the share of the
largest enterprises in these sectors.
III. Public expenditure. The subject of this chapter is the
expenditure by national government and local authorities
on media and cultural affairs during the period 1990 - 1999/
2000.
IV. Private consumption. Here an account is given of the
total expenditure of private individuals on media,
telecommunications, culture and entertainment, as a whole
and with a breakdown by individual area during the period
1985-2001.
V. Books. The core of the material in this chapter concems
books published during the years 1965-2000, with a
breakdown by books and booklets, original and repeat
editions, subject and translations. There are figures on
various other aspects linked to books and book publishing,