Truth in News

Research Paper # 109914

Truth in News

A study of viewer's opinion of television news accuracy and whether they find local television news to be more accurate than 24-hour cable news.

2,915 words () | 8 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper tests the hypothesis that viewers find local news to be more truthful and trustworthy than the news from a 24 hour news station. It examines the opinions of a sample of residents in the town of Morehead, KY concerning both cable and local news. Data collected from sixteen volunteer surveys is analyzed to make a conclusion on how age and viewing habits could determine a viewer's trust in a given newscast. A content analysis of both local and cable news is also analyzed to determine how the breakdown of a newscast's structure may affect perceptions of truth to viewers.

Outline:
Introduction
Research of Literature
Description and Defense of Methods
Presentation of Data
Formal Answering of the Research Question Based on Data Gathered

From the Paper:

"Heider, McCombs, and Poindexter (2005) focus on the construct of the local station news. A survey was conducted in which four dimensions of journalism were revealed by the public: good neighbor, watchdog, unbiased and accurate, and fast. Of these dimensions, the public did not respond well to watchdog and fast reporting. The survey concluded that the public relies on local news because it acts as a community forum. This study helps to define the pre-existing opinions that the public holds concerning the construct of local news. This study can also relate to opinions concerning cable news, as it's already been discussed that 24-hour news relies on "fast-reporting" (a dimension that the public does not respond well to)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Ben-Porath, E.N. (2007). Internal fragmentation of the news. Journalism Studies, 8(3), 414-431.
Brodsky, L. (2007). Internet news, the changing nature of journalism and misinformation: What are the risks for scholars? Conference Papers - International Studies Association, p. 1.
Cushion, S., Lewis, J., & Thomas, J. (2005). Immediacy, convenience or engagement? An analysis of 24-hour news channels in the UK. Journalism Studies, 6(4), 461-467.
Dokoupil, T., & Schudson, M. (2007). The limits of live. Columbia Journalism Review, 45(5), 63.
Hanson, G., & Wearden, S.T. (2004). Measuring newscast accuracy: Applying a newspaper model to television. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 81(3), 546-558.