<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This study compares the media systems of the West Nordic countries, namely the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland. All three countries are democratic welfare states with considerable institutional transfer from the larger Nordic countries. It is argued that the West Nordic media systems fit into the “Nordic model” when it comes to the perception of media as cultural institutions as well as the central role of public service media. On the other hand, the micro-size of the media systems in the West Nordic countries makes them vulnerable, and makes editorial independence more difficult compared with their larger Nordic neighbours. In particular, media outlets within these micro-size media systems seem more susceptible to clientelism, and journalists seem more inclined towards self-censorship. This article highlights how interplay between small size and distinct local factors shape the media system in each of the West Nordic countries.</p>
</abstract>

This study compares the media systems of the West Nordic countries, namely the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland. All three countries are democratic welfare states with considerable institutional transfer from the larger Nordic countries. It is argued that the West Nordic media systems fit into the “Nordic model” when it comes to the perception of media as cultural institutions as well as the central role of public service media. On the other hand, the micro-size of the media systems in the West Nordic countries makes them vulnerable, and makes editorial independence more difficult compared with their larger Nordic neighbours. In particular, media outlets within these micro-size media systems seem more susceptible to clientelism, and journalists seem more inclined towards self-censorship. This article highlights how interplay between small size and distinct local factors shape the media system in each of the West Nordic countries.

Particularities of media systems in the West Nordic countries

Department of Social Sciences, Economics and Journalism

Department of History and Social Sciences

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Particularities of media systems in the West Nordic countries"}

This study compares the media systems of the West Nordic countries, namely the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland. All three countries are democratic...

Particularities of media systems in the West Nordic countries

Published Online: Mar 26, 2021

Page range: 102 - 123

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2021-0020

Keywords
the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, comparative research, size

© 2021 Signe Ravn-Højgaard et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Particularities of media systems in the West Nordic countries

Published Online: Mar 26, 2021

Page range: 102 - 123

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2021-0020

Keywordsthe Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, comparative research, size

© 2021 Signe Ravn-Højgaard et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, comparative research, size