TV Station Ownership and Local News Content: A Content Analysis of the Austin, Texas TV Market

dc.contributor.advisorNiekamp, Ray
dc.contributor.authorSeed, Daniel F.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSmith, Bruce
dc.contributor.committeeMemberde Macedo Higgins Joyce, Vanessa
dc.date.accessioned2015-05-21T17:43:10Z
dc.date.available2015-05-21T17:43:10Z
dc.date.issued2015-04
dc.description.abstractThis study examined the ownership characteristics of the four, English-language, broadcast network affiliated television stations in the Austin, Texas designated market area to understand if there is a relationship between ownership and the amount of local news content aired during each station’s late, local newscast. This content analysis, which took place during the November 2013 and November 2014 ratings sweeps period, and using agenda-setting as a theoretical background, sought to explore which stations are giving Austin viewers the most local news content. In addition, this content analysis explored whether or not a change in ownership at the city’s ABC affiliate from a smaller, Texas-based ownership group to ownership by the media conglomerate Gannett, would have a significant difference on the station’s local news product. One change in local news content, specifically the proportion of local stories against total stories in its newscast, resulted in a significant difference following the station’s sale to Gannett. Other measures of local news content experienced no significant change. This research is intended to add to the scholarly discussion and the body of knowledge on the evolving regulatory debate regarding television station ownership, and how changes to regulation can, if at all, affect local news and thus the civic discourse among citizens in local markets.
dc.description.departmentJournalism and Mass Communication
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent52 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationSeed, D. F. (2015). TV station ownership and local news content: A content analysis of the Austin, Texas TV market (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/5531
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectAustin
dc.subjectTelevision
dc.subjectContent analysis
dc.subjectLocal news
dc.subjectOwnership
dc.subjectBroadcast
dc.subjectTelevision news
dc.titleTV Station Ownership and Local News Content: A Content Analysis of the Austin, Texas TV Market
dc.typeThesis
thesis.degree.departmentJournalism and Mass Communication
thesis.degree.disciplineMass Communication
thesis.degree.grantorTexas State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts

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