Abstract Title Page The Thesis I. Introduction After decades of isolation, northerners communicate again II. Context for the Northern News Service Glasnost' and the Soviet media during 1988-1992 III. History Organization and performance of the Northern News Service IV. Methodology for content analysis A content analysis technique well suited for journalism V. Content analysis results What news service members had to say to one another VI. Discussion of key findings NNS provides an "atypical vocabulary" and a mirror on society VII. Conclusion Society shapes the press -- and the press shapes society VIII. Epilogue Telling stories around the tribal fire Appendices & References Appendix A. Partial list of participants in NNS sessions Appendix B. Russian subscribers to NNS in 1992 Appendix C. Circulation size of selected NNS newspapers Appendix D. Subject matter classifications in combinatorial analysis Appendix E. Treatment classifications in combinatorial analysis References and bibliography Acknowledgements