UNITED STATES

The United States is known as the world's foremost economic and military power. It is also a major source of entertainment: American TV, Hollywood films, jazz, blues, rock and rap music are primary ingredients in global popular culture.

• Capital City: Washington D.C
  
• Population: Estimated at 291 Million
  
• Major Language: English
  
• Major Religion: Christianity
  
• Life expectancy: 74 years (men), 80 years (women) (UN)
  
• Monetary unit: 1 US dollar = 100 cents
  
• Main exports: Computers and electrical machinery, vehicles, chemical products, food and live
• animals, military equipment and aircraft
  
• Average annual income: US $34,280 (World Bank, 2001)
  
• Internet domain: .us
  
• International dialling code: +1

THE MEDIA

• The press
  • Christian Science Monitor
    
  • USA Today
    
  • Wall Street Journal
    
  • Los Angeles Times
    
  • Washington Post
    
  • Boston Globe
    
  • New York Post
    
  • New York Times
    
  • Philadelphia Inquirer
    
  • Baltimore Sun
    
  • Newsweek
    
  • Time
    
• Television
  
  • ABC
    
  • CBS
    
  • NBC
    
  • Fox
    
  • CNN
    
  • MTV
    
  • HBO (Home Box Office)
    
  • PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)
    
• Radio
  
  • NPR (National Public Radio) - non-commercial network of member stations; news,information and cultural programmes
    
  • Clear Channel - America's largest commercial radio operator, owns more than 1,200 stations
    Infinity - major commercial radio operator with some 180 stations in major markets
    
  • ABC Radio Networks - operates a number of flagship stations coast-to-coast
    
  • Voice of America - government-funded international broadcaster
    
  • Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - international broadcaster targeting eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the Middle East in local languages; funded by the US Congress
    News Agencies
    
• Associated Press
  
  • Bloomberg Business News
    
  • UPI