Newspaper Comparison
Instructions: After you examine your newspaper, answer the following
questions.
1. Read through your newspaper. The editorial section of the paper features the
thoughts and opinions of the newspaper. Review the editorial page of your
newspaper and answer the following questions:

How do news articles, editorials and opinions differ from each other?

What issues do the various newspapers choose to cover in their editorial
pages?

A masthead is "the listing in a newspaper or periodical of information
about its staff, operation, and circulation." Find your newspaper's
masthead (generally in the editorial section). How is the newspaper
managed? Who is the owner? The publisher? Editor? What other positions
are listed on the masthead?

Discuss the various positions listed on the masthead. What are the
responsibilities of the various positions?
2. Newspapers are organized into separate departments to ensure journalistic
independence--in other words, to make sure that reporters and editors are not
unduly influenced by outside forces. In practice, however, this intent is not
always realized. Ask your students the following questions:

How might subscribers or advertisers influence news reporting?

How might bias or personal opinion be reflected in how a news story is
reported?
2010 WNET.ORG

How might bias be reflected in the coverage (or lack of coverage) of
different groups within a community?
3. Historically, immigrants and other minority groups often establish
newspapers to ensure that the issues and concerns of their communities are
reported and advocated, issues that are often poorly covered in the
mainstream press. Scan your newspaper and answer the following questions:

Why would a minority group feel the need for their own press?

What issues would be of special concern to a specific group (say, an
immigrant community)?

What sorts of stories unreported in the major press are likely to be
reported in the minority press?

What international events would they likely cover? What local reporting?
4. How do newspapers support themselves? Where do they get the revenue they
need to hire staff and publish their papers? Newspapers, of course, derive
their income from newspaper sales and advertising revenue. Just as with
television advertising, information concerning the numbers and types of
readers are important to advertisers in deciding whether to advertise in a
particular paper. This information is also used by the newspaper to set
advertising rates. Look at your newspaper and consider the following
questions:

What kinds of businesses are advertising in their newspaper?

Must a community have a middle-class or a business population to
support a newspaper?
2010 WNET.ORG