Dialing in to Local TV News

When it comes to local news in Chicago, one channel is as good as another, at least according to more than 1,400 TV-news viewers in the Chicagoland area. This finding, among others, was revealed in a new study "The Local TV News Experience: How to Win Viewers by Focusing on Engagement," conducted by the Medill School of Journalism and Media Management Center at Northwestern University.

The study - released on July 20 - reported that a majority of respondents felt that "No program causes its viewers to react or feel differently than others," according to an analysis by Broadcasting & Cable magazine (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6463856.html&referral=supp). The study provided examples from newscasts on local channels for analysis. The goal was to give TV news directors "tools to increase local news viewing by enhancing viewer engagement and provide broadcast leaders insights to help them think strategically about the position of the station and its role in the local community," according to the study.

In general, the study found that viewers had higher confidence in the integrity of TV news as compared to newspapers. It also noted that stations could benefit from increased diversity in newscast soundbites, according to Broadcasting & Cable.

To view the complete study, visit: http://www.mediamanagementcenter.org/localtv/