Use of an Electronic Database to Evaluate Newspaper Editorial Quality

Abstract

Electronic database searching opens new avenues for newspaper research. One strategy for evaluating quality of newspapers is to compare newspapers for spelling, grammar and style errors. An electronic database search was utilized to evaluate the editing precision of 58 news organizations and their ratings were compared to their Pulitzer Prize records. A non-linear relationship was found. Winning a small number of Pulitzers correlates positively with editing precision, but the effect diminishes rapidly with additional Pulitzer Prizes.

¿De qué hablamos cuando hablamos de posverdad? Análisis del término en siete diarios de calidad

“…Another area of research about quality studies content by applying standards of grammar, punctuation, and accuracy. For example, Meyer and Arant (1992) used an electronic database from fiftyeight dailies to evaluate two style errors, one spelling error and one grammar error. These were picked because of the common misuse and were: the use of "most unique," the Associated Press (AP) preferred spelling of "minuscule," using of the AP preferred spelling of "judgment," and the presence of the misspelling of "accommodate."…”

“…As a test of validity, Meyer and Arant (1992) Another research area related to editing concerns accuracy. Work in the area of accuracy goes back to the 1930s with Charnley (1936) and continues today.…”