Déjà-Vu News: How do Local Print and Broadcast Websites Present News?

Abstract

News websites produced by local U.S. newspapers and television news stations appear to most significantly distinguish themselves by having characteristics similar to those of their original medium. As audiences increasingly go online to find out the news, broadcast and print news outlets are finding a way to present their stories and interact with these consumers. This study looks at a sample of local television news and newspaper websites to determine what factors influence their presentation of news. In analyzing 14 unique attributes of local news websites, these results suggest that original medium of the news website matters most in determining the presentation of a local news websites. Market size, cross-medium ownership within a market and national affiliation also influence local news websites to a lesser extent.