Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU Masters Theses Graduate Research and Creative Practice 12-2003 Local TV News: A Content Analysis of the Late Local Newscasts in Grand Rapids, Michigan Fred A. Martino Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/theses Recommended Citation Martino, Fred A., "Local TV News: A Content Analysis of the Late Local Newscasts in Grand Rapids, Michigan" (2003). Masters Theses. 549. http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/theses/549 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research and Creative Practice at ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Local TV News: A Content Analysis of the Late Local Newscasts In Grand Rapids, Michigan BY Fred A. Martino B.S., Ithaca College, 1990 THESIS Submitted in partial fulHüment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree in Communication in the Graduate Studies Program o f the Sdiool of Communications Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan F all Term 2003 Local TV News: A Content Analysis of the Late Local Newscasts in Grand Rapids, Michigan BY Fred A. Martino M.S., Grand Valley State University Decembe-, 2003 SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ALLENDALE, MICHIGAN WE HEREBY APPROVE THE THESIS SUBMITTED BY _______________________________ Fred A. Martino_________________ ENTITLED Local TV News: A Content Analysis of the Late Local Newscasts in Grand Rapids. Michigan ________________________________________________________ AS PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMMUNICATION O' Thesis Review Committee Chair [lesis Review Committee Member Thesis Review Committee Member APPROVED: Director of School of Communications Local T V News i Abstract Local TV News: A Content Analysis of the Late Local Newscasts In Grand R^ids, Michigan, is a thorough study o f the late newscasts presented on W (X)D-TV, W ZZM -TV, and W XM I-TV. Seven newscasts were studied on each of the stations. Each newscast was recorded on the same night, over a seven-week period. The first three newscasts were recorded on June 1, 2003. The 6nal three newscasts were recorded on July 19, 2003. The study evaluated the amount of time devoted to nine areas that comprise most of the cootW offered by traditional local television newscasts: local news, state news, national/world news, issue-oriented reporting, local features, outside-source features, weather, ^xxts, and promotions. As a percentage o f total newscast time, the newscasts Matured a small amount of local news. The station averages for the seven wedcs studied were very similar, with loctd news comprising 14.8% to 17.7% o f each newscast. Reports within the newscast often lacked new information or even clarity. Attribution of sources was rare and many stories were incomplete. A il three statirms spent a great deal o f time on sports and weather, considering that much o f the information presented in these segments had little or no local relevance. One o f the most striking Endings o f the study involved the amount o f time devoted to promotions within the newscast. A ll of the stations devoted more time to promotions than state news or issue-oriented reporting. W XM I devoted more o f its newscasts (7.7% ) to promotion than any news content area, with the exception o f local news and national/world news. Local T V News ii Acknowledgements This study would not have been possible without the assistance o f several of this researcWr's colleagues at Grand Valley State University. Michael Pritchard served as chair o f this thesis committee and also guided this res^wcher through a number o f courses that resulted in the decision to pursue this topic. Alex Nesterenko, the Director o f the School of Communications, served on the thesis committee and was also the advisor for an independent study. Ken Kolbe, the Assistant General Manager for Operations at W GVU Television and Radio, served on the thesis committee and supported the pursuit o f study as this researcher's direct supervisor. Finally, Soon Hong o f the Statistical Counseling Center, p%R)rmed statistical tests on the data collected. Local T V News iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1............................................................................................................. 1 Introduction.................................................................................................. 1 Study Overview ................................................................................ 1 SigniScance o f the Study .................................................................. 1 Experts Critical of Local TV News Content ..................................... 2 Ratings Decline Along With Content ............................................... 4 Content Analysis Offers Hc^e ......................................................... 5 ResKirch Questions .......................................................................... 6 CHAPTER n ........................................................................................................... 7 Television News Research ........................................................................... 7 An Industry In P eril ..........................................................................7 Everyone At Risk ............................................................................. 7 Entertainment Pushing Out Journalism ............................................ 8 Locd News Content Also Su8ering .................................................10 Substance Leads to Success ............................................................. 10 Own«"ship Impact On Quality ......................................................... 12 Study Background ............................................................................13 DeSnition of Quality ........................................................................ 13 Owna^ship Size and Quality ............................................................ 14 Network Owned and Operated Stations ........................................... 15 Newspaper Cross-Owned Stations ................................................... 17 Local TV News iv Public Versus Private Ownership ..................................................... 18 Local Ownership and % iality .......................................................... 19 Diva-sity of Viewpoints ................................................................... 20 Impact of Change: The Radio Example .......................................... 20 The Diversity Question .................................................................... 21 Owne^ship Diversity Affects Newscast Quality .............................. 23 CHAPTER m ......................................................................................................... 25 Methodology .............................................................................................. 25 Study Design Overview .................................................................. 25 Issue-Oriented Reportii% ................................................................ 26 Local News ..................................................................................... 26 Local Features ..................................................................................26 National/World News ......................................................................27 Outside Source Features ................................................................... 27 W eather ........................................................................................... 27 Sports.............................................................................................. 27 Promotions...................................................................... 28 Study Format .................................................................................. 28 Technical Procedures .......................................................................28 CHAPTER IV ......................................................................................................... 30 Findings O f The Study..................................................................................30 Local News ...................................................................................... 31 Local TV News v State News ....................................................................................... 32 National/World News .......................................................... 33 Local FeaWres ...................................................................................34 Issue-Oriented Reporting .................................................................. 35 Outside Source Features ................................................................... 37 Promotions........................................................................................38 Sports............................................................................................... 39 W eather ............................................................................................ 41 Content Summary ............................................................................. 42 Research Questions ............................................................................ 43 Content Analysis .............................................................................