Ralph E. Hanson, Second Edition
HomeWeblogChaptersCh. 1: Living in a Media WorldCh. 2: The Media Business: Consolidation, Globalization, and the Long TailCh. 3: Mass Communication Effects: How Society and Media InteractCh. 4: Books: The Birth of the Mass MediaCh. 5: Magazines: The Power of Words and ImagesCh. 6: Newspapers: Reflection of a Democratic SocietyCh. 7: Sound: Music and Talk Across MediaCh. 8: Movies: Mass-Producing EntertainmentCh. 9: Television: Broadcast, Cable and BeyondCh. 10: The Internet: Mass Communication Gets PersonalCh. 11: Advertising: Selling a MessageCh. 12: Public Relations: Manufacturing the NewsCh. 13: Media Law: Free Speech and FairnessCh. 14: Media Ethics: Truthfulness, Fairness, and Standards of DecencyCh. 15: Global Media: Communication Around the WorldAbout the BookAbout the AuthorHelp
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Chapter 6: Newspapers

Exercises

1. When it first hit the newsstand, USA Today was criticized for presenting news much differently than the established, traditional newspapers. Today, critics look back and give credit to USA Today for forcing change within the industry. Take a second to stop by a newsstand, or stand in front of a row of paper boxes. Does the USA Today still look significantly different from other national or major metropolitan papers? What similarities do you see on the papers' front pages? From what you have learned in this chapter, what obvious characteristics do you notice in the national or metropolitan papers that may have been influenced by the USA Today?


2. When we hear the word “tabloid,” we immediately associate things like Bigfoot, space aliens, “Bat-Boy,” and a list of other ridiculous topics. However, as we have learned in this chapter, the word tabloid is really referring to a newspaper's size, not content. If you have never read a tabloid newspaper or visited a tabloid's Web site, take some time do so. Aside from the shape of the paper, are they presenting news in a different manner than a traditional broadsheet paper? Does their Web presence have any noticeable differences in comparison to the average metropolitan paper?

3. Recently we've heard a lot about the newspaper industry. It is being reported that newspapers are losing circulation and the death of the newspaper industry is eminent. In 2005, newspapers saw circulation dip 2.6 percent for daily editions and 3.1 percent for Sunday papers. But advertising revenues grew between 1 and 2 percent and the number of online newspaper have increased.

•  Source: Who is reporting that newspapers are losing circulation? Is this a popular view, or an opinion held by only a few media scholars?

•  Analyze & Reflect: Think about the characteristics of the penny press as compared to a modern newspaper. What, if any, of those same characteristics have carried over to the modern paper? Does the New York Sun's motto “It Shines for All” remain true for modern newspapers?

•  Examine: Consider where people get news. Are newspapers losing readers to other media sources? What media outlets are stealing away newspaper readers? What do newspapers offer consumers that is unique? What are the major disadvantages of newspapers in comparison to modern media, such as the Internet?

•  Conclude: Where do you get news? Does your hometown newspaper satisfy subscribers and sustain itself as a viable product? What does your local paper do well? Is your paper changing with the times, and embracing technology and innovation? Is it married to traditional newspaper practices?