Front-page gatekeeping and content trends in 15 large-circulation newspapers

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2006-12

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Abstract

This study examines the state of gatekeeping and news judgment practices among major daily newspapers in three regions by studying their front-page content offerings. Using a content analysis of the story selections of 15 newspapers (five in each region), the results within each region were compared to those of the others using a set of 12 story topic categories.

The newspapers were compared individually and as a group to the findings of a massive Readership Institute study that outlined what readers stated they want from their daily newspapers. The 15 newspapers were chosen because of their circulation, all 15 are among the 30 largest in the country in weekday circulation, and geographic location. The study sought a diverse group of papers in terms of media ownership and most of the nation’s top media markets are represented. Gatekeeping practices are similar, with differences appearing when regional or readership-specific needs arise to change the weights given to different stories. The results also show that in the current newspaper and overall media environment, newspapers that focus their resources on what their readership most values, wants and needs to know, and are easy to navigate will have a chance to compete or at least hold their readership in years to come.

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