Total market circulation newspapers : an understudied element of local news
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Meeting name
Sponsors
Date
Journal Title
Format
Thesis
Subject
Abstract
This study explores the often-ignored total market circulations newspapers. These printed news products are circulated to all homes in a geographical area free of charge and funded almost exclusively by advertising. The study draws on 15 interviews with key stakeholders of these free community newspapers that circulate by mail through the Midwest. This research allows the participants to define their publications and explain the product's place in the local news ecosystem. A key finding of this research is the importance of total market circulation publications' identity as a free source of news-- ensuring that all community members, regardless of their financial circumstances, have access to local news. Participants expressed the importance of their publication's hyperlocal focus. Since many of these publications started or were transformed into a free community newspaper to fill a news desert or information gap, the participants perceived that the publications are important to their audience's daily lives. However, the findings show that these publications could not work in all locations, as participants described the characteristics of a community that are needed for a one to thrive. These conditions include a strong community base with a desire for news and a strong business community. The payoff, though, is a successful free publication that is influenced by many of the same internal and external forces as a traditional news outlet. Using the hierarchy of influence model, this study examines how the participants are influenced by social, institutional, organizational, routine, and individual forces in their decision making. Unique aspects of these publications like the organizational influence of their advertising funding model was noted to not impact their daily routines, while others like the hyperlocal focus did affect some story choices. Ultimately, this research illuminates an understudied facet of the local news ecosystem and shows how similar that they are to what is thought of as traditional news outlets.
Table of Contents
DOI
PubMed ID
Degree
M.A.