Does the "news" come first? Social responsibility, infotainment, and local television newscasts in Portland, Oregon : a content analysis

Abstract

The goal of a socially responsible newscast is an informed audience able to make decisions about the world around them. Oftentimes, this includes content focused on policy, government, the economy, and other relevant "hard" news. The information is provided in a manner conducive to viewer learning.In contrast, the goal of infotainment is to grab and hold the attention of the audience. These stories are of"softer" content, focused on celebrities, features, and dramatic incidents. The information is often provided in a "flashy" fashion, with the aim of catching the audience's eye more than enlightening the viewers.2 This study examines the qualities of social responsibility and infotainment in three different areas: news story content, story presentation style, and whether the time period was before, during, or after the ad-rate setting "ratings" period. This last variable examines any potential changes to a newscast during the times when newscasts are at their most competitive for viewers.The results indicate a need for Portland's late night local broadcast . newsrooms to reevaluate what is aired as news, and to look deeper into how that information is presented. Infotainment content and presentation styles play a major role in the majority of analyzed newscasts. The role of this content becomes even more pronounced during ratings periods.

Diminished Democracy? Portland Radio News/Public Affairs After the Telecom Act of 1996

“…Portland television (Higgins 2005), I have found no such studies on Portland radio-a void this paper seeks to address.…”