To determine whether there are systematic differences in press role between nations or blocs of nations, an exploratory study examined structural differences between United States and European political systems and whether, in light of these differences, press roles may vary in some respects across continents. These editors were interviewed about the roles their newspapers play in their communities and their judgments about reporting and editorializing on a wide range of public affairs issues, including community planning. Data are based on interviews of 155 American editors of a Midwestern regional sample of 59 weeklies and 96 dailies, and 30 European editors of nonmetropolitan communities in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and West Germany. Findings revealed that: (1) the role of the community press is highly similar in different nations of the Western world; (2) on both continents, the editors share the same relative priorities with respect to news and information, and upon reporting the issues in government, education, and business; and (3) the differences that do appear are primarily seen in less inclination among European editors to rate certain issues such as school controversies and community planning as highly appropriate for their editorial columns. Findings pointed to some differences in perceptions of the watchdog function and the information role. (Five tables of data and 37 notes are included.) (MS)