What The Times-picayune changes mean for the relationship between a newspaper and its community
Open Access
Author:
Mcdermott, Casey M
Area of Honors:
Interdisciplinary in Journalism and Sociology
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dr. Jeffery Todd Ulmer, Thesis Honors Advisor Russell Edgar Eshleman Jr., Thesis Supervisor James Ford Risley, Thesis Honors Advisor Dr. Jeffery Todd Ulmer, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
journalism newspapers New Orleans media logic
Abstract:
This thesis examines the changes in The Times-Picayune in the context of the social makeup of the New Orleans community and as manifested on the publication’s recently refurbished print product. It offers an analysis of both the factors behind its new approach and the social implications of this particular change in a city where a newspaper was for so long a reliable constant in the everyday lives of many. The changes noted in New Orleans reflect larger changes in the evolution of the print
newspaper as a form of media that sees a need to place growing emphasis on engaging potential readers, rather than solely informing an audience, in order to survive amid technological and economic changes. The following thesis draws on a qualitative analysis of The Times-Picayune’s print product to assess whether a changing appearance is reflective of a changing role of the news outlet’s relationship with its readers.
