Daily newspaper circulation in the U.S. and Soviet Union 1970-1989
During the Cold War, printed media in the Soviet Union was under the control of the Communist Party, and newspapers were the primary method of communication with the public. In the U.S., however, almost all newspapers were privately owned, and freedom of the press meant that censorship was prohibited under the U.S. Constitution. The most popular newspaper in the USSR was Pravda, which continues to be among the most popular Russian publications today.
In terms of the circulation of daily newspapers in the 1970s and 1980s, the U.S. figures remained steady between an average of 62 and 63 million copies per day, whereas circulation in the USSR grew from 82 million in 1970 to 138 million in 1989. As the population difference remained roughly forty million in these years, the contrast in circulation cannot be explained by this; instead, the comparatively low figures in the U.S. were due to the consumption of media from other sources, as well as variations in societal trends.
In terms of the circulation of daily newspapers in the 1970s and 1980s, the U.S. figures remained steady between an average of 62 and 63 million copies per day, whereas circulation in the USSR grew from 82 million in 1970 to 138 million in 1989. As the population difference remained roughly forty million in these years, the contrast in circulation cannot be explained by this; instead, the comparatively low figures in the U.S. were due to the consumption of media from other sources, as well as variations in societal trends.
