According to the given study in our recent Issues and the News class, about 31 percent of local newspaper coverage deals with either crime or “conflict” news. The same study indicated about 28 percent of national newspaper coverage is comprised of such news. But how accurate are those statistics in what we read day to day?
First, the reason I put “conflict” news in quotes: How exactly is that defined in the study? How was it the definition executed in the study? And what errors might result? With that in mind, my general impression is that the national numbers are a little under-stated and local numbers are a little overstated. I think local newspapers deal more with consumer, tax-payer, family-oriented and local political issues more than crime and conflict. That’s not to say crime and conflict don’t play a role, but I’m not sure it’s nearly one-third of the coverage.
On the national side, it seems much more of the coverage deals with crime and conflict. A glance at the front section of the NY Times reveals a multitude of such stories, which often define international coverage. Again, I can’t say for sure the study is wrong or right because I don’t have the actual material myself, but I would guess the national percentage comes up a little short.
A citation of the study in class and accompanying material would provide better evidence to make a judgment.