Commentary: Readership Research - Challenges and Chances

Abstract

The authors discuss the current environment for newspaper readership research and address the essential issue: does newspaper research ask the right questions?

Gender and Age Effects on Information-Seeking after 9/11

“…It appears younger individuals view print and the Internet as accessible and useful sources of Information-Seeking after 9=11 221 information. The finding that younger people reported using print media more than older people is especially interesting and seems to contradict the notion that young people are not reading newspapers (Kohut, 2002;Schoenbach & Bergen, 2002). One potential reason for this finding in the current study is the sample utilized.…”

A Comparison of Environmental Pollution Coverage in the Mainstream, African American, and Other Alternative Press

“…Profit has become a central organizational goal for news outlets (Demers, 1996) due to the explosion of media channels and the resulting competition for advertisers and readership share. Effectively reaching targeted readership has pushed editors and other newspaper management to consider readers first when making content decisions (Schoenbach & Bergen, 1998).…”

Conscientious dissident or radical eccentric: Negotiation of mediated protest images in New Zealand

“…The reasons for this elitist coverage have been attributed to several underlying causes. Possible influences on content are the power of journalism practices and norms (Kenix, 2005); organizational demands (Bagdikian, 2000); individual journalists; economic pressures (Schoenbach & Bergen, 1998); and a pervasive hegemonic ideology (Herman & Chomsky, 1988;Hertog & McLeod, 1995;P. J. Shoemaker & Reese, 1996;Tichenor et al, 1973).…”