Burd, Gene2010-10-262010-10-262017-05-112010-10-262010-10-262017-05-112010-05May 2010http://hdl.handle.net/2152/ETD-UT-2010-05-1053textLocally generated content comprises nearly 80% of front page content for most American newspapers, with Associated Press and other wire service content comprising between 15% and 20% across various circulation categories. However, newspapers with daily circulation between 30,000 and 50,000 provide a sharp distinction – a “curve” or “groove” – publishing an average of barely 60% locally generated content on their front page, pulling nearly 40% from wire services. The anomaly declines somewhat for publications with daily circulation between 50,000 and 100,000. This statistical content analysis of 42 American newspapers of diverse circulation sizes also reveals a universal focus on domestic politics, which comprises nearly a third of all locally generated and wire content, and reveals key commonalities across circulation categories and regional boundaries.application/pdfengSmall newspapersLocally generated news contentWire news contentCirculation sizeNewspaper subject matterGeographical newspapersAmerican newspapersNewspapersthesis2010-10-26