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How to Read a Newspaper. CMAT 102 Prof. Jeremy Cox. A newspaper’s look and content are factors of. The makeup of its readership and what they care about The makeup of its advertising base How much money it makes Who owns it, the structure of the ownership and values of the ownership
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How to Read a Newspaper CMAT 102 Prof. Jeremy Cox
A newspaper’s look and content are factors of... • The makeup of its readership and what they care about • The makeup of its advertising base • How much money it makes • Who owns it, the structure of the ownership and values of the ownership • How often it comes out (i.e. daily, weekly, etc.) • Its relationship with new media • Its competition
Readership • The target audience of the newspaper. • Usually determined by the distribution area. How far the paper is delivered to doorsteps and store shelves. • Generally speaking, there are three types of newspapers: local, regional and national. • Regional papers are cutting back. It costs lots of money in gas and manpower to deliver to far-flung communities, so many are reeling in where they distribute. • In 2009, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution stopped delivering to seven Georgia counties and cutting full-time news staff from 323 to 230. • From 50 counties (Georgia has 67), it now delivers to fewer than two dozen
Let’s take a look at a few examples • Local: http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=AZ_KDM&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1 • Regional: http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=FL_MH&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=3 • National: http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=USAT&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1
What your readership cares about • Is it a college town? http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=FL_GS&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1 • Are your readers primarily conservatives?http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=DC_WT&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1 • Is it a military town? http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=FL_PNJ&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1 • Are the readers outdoorsy? http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=AK_FDNM&ref_pge=gal&b_pge=1