The Census

Although television had gained significant traction in its first decade of existence (1956-1966), the cinematographic newsreel remained a relevant medium in 1966 for disseminating information of public interest across the country. In this case, the information pertained to the upcoming census in March 1966. This would be the third census conducted under the new political system, following the first in January 1948 and the second in 1956. The newsreel played a crucial role in ensuring that the population was informed and prepared for the census.

This topic dramatizes the review process for educational purposes, with the newsreel team following a census worker during a trial review. An extended family, with the man declaring himself the head of the household, provides a set of responses that are meant to illustrate how the review process unfolds. When this subject was produced, the newsreel had already released another segment on the same topic just two weeks prior, offering details about the personnel involved in the census and the technology used. However, given the limited circulation and well-known delays in the newsreel’s distribution outside the capital (as noted in our Introduction to the Newsreel page), it’s difficult to gauge the impact or reach of this subject and others like it.