1. Newspaper Content Analysis
Prof. Ravi Dixit
Head Media Academic Area
Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad
2005
2. Newspaper Content Analysis
Content analysis of three newspapers
– The Telegraph (Calcutta)
– The Times of India (Ahmedabad)
– Hindu (Chennai)
8 issues of each newspaper over a period of two weeks
Classification on basis of no. of photographs, no. of color photographs,
origin of story, geographic focus, treatment of story, theme, and sub
theme
3. Newspaper Content Analysis
Comparison between weekday content and Sunday content of TOI
Comparison between weekday content and Sunday content of
Telegraph
Comparison of weekday content between TOI, Telegraph, and Hindu
Comparison of Sunday content between TOI, Telegraph, and Hindu
4. Newspaper Content Analysis
Analysis of average total area and average no. of pages in all three
newspapers
Front page content analysis comparison with inside pages content
during weekdays for TOI, Telegraph, and Hindu
Front page content analysis comparison with inside pages content on
Sunday for TOI, Telegraph, and Hindu
Front page content analysis during weekdays compared with front
page content on Sunday for TOI, Telegraph, and Hindu
5. TOI Weekdays/ Sunday
Section Name
Section Name
Other
1.6% Local Local
Others 6.4%
Others 6.7%
14.9% Regional/State
10.5% Regional/State
12.8%
12.8%
Youth
Sunday Magazine
17.6% National National
17.0%
10.6%
12.1%
Sports
International Sports
8.3% International
9.6% 6.4%
Business 12.8%
Editorial/Opinion Editorial/Opinion
13.1%
7.7% 19.1%
9. TOI Weekdays/ Sunday
Origin of story
staff
Origin of story 72.3%
unknow n Wire
22.4% reader
24.3%
6.4%
unknow n
reader
1.6%
4.3%
Wire
17.0%
staff
51.8%
10. TOI Weekdays/ Sunday
Geographic focus
Geographic focus
local
none local
none 8.5%
10.9% 8.9%
23.4% state/regional
state/regional
14.9%
12.5%
international
29.7%
national
international
25.5%
national 27.7%
38.0%
11. TOI Weekdays/ Sunday
Treatment Treatment
other commentary/criticism
1.3% 17.0%
commentary/criticism
8.6%
feature general new s
feature
25.2% 57.4%
25.5%
general new s
64.9%
12. TOI Weekdays/ Sunday
THEME THEME
Other Other Politics/Government/
Politics/Government/
17.9%
17.0% 17.0%
22.4%
Other
4.2%
Other
Ordinary People
6.4% Police/crime/courts/
5.1%
Police/crime/courts/ Science and Technolo 12.8%
Education
10.5% 6.4%
4.2%
Parenting and relati Business, Economics
Entertainment
Business, Economics 4.3% 6.4%
12.8%
14.1% Sports
Sports Entertainment
8.5%
8.9% 21.3%
13. TOI Weekdays/ Sunday
NO.SOURC NO.SOURC
Other
Other
8.5% 1.00
13.7%
1.00
23.4%
30.4%
Missing Missing
29.1% 40.4% 2.00
17.0%
2.00
3.00
16.6%
3.00
6.4%
10.2%
7.00
4.3%
16. Telegraph Weekdays/ Sunday
Origin of story
Origin of story
reader unknow n
Wire
4.3% 21.2%
unknow n 25.0%
32.3%
Wire
25.2% reader
staff
1.0%
49.4%
staff
41.7%
17. Telegraph Weekdays/ Sunday
Geographic focus Geographic focus
none local none
10.4% 10.4% local
13.8%
20.8%
state/regional
3.4%
state/regional
international
international 6.3%
30.2%
34.4%
national
38.0%
national
32.3%
18. Telegraph Weekdays/ Sunday
Treatment Treatment
feature feature commentary/criticism
15.0% 15.6% 6.3%
other
commentary/criticism
3.1%
10.4%
other
1.2%
general new s
73.3%
general new s
75.0%
19. Telegraph Weekdays/ Sunday
THEME THEME
Other
Other
Politics/Government/ 9.4%
20.6%
26.7% Other Politics/Government/
11.5% 31.3%
Entertainment
Entertainment
12.0%
12.5%
Police/crime/courts/
12.3%
Police/crime/courts/
Sports
Business, Economics 10.4%
16.6% Sports
12.0% Business, Economics
20.8%
4.2%
20. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Comparison between the weekdays issue of all three newspapers
Comparison between the Sunday issue of all three newspapers
Origin of Story, Geographic Focus, Treatment, Theme, Sub Theme,
No. of Photographs
21. TOI (weekdays)
Origin of story
unknown Wire
22.4%
24.3%
reader
1.6%
staff
51.8%
24. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Origin of Story
TOI 52%, Hindu 73%, and Telegraph 49% stories originate from staff
reporters
No. of stories derived from wire/ news agencies is similar in Telegraph
& TOI (25%) whereas it is half of that in Hindu
More similarity in TOI & Telegraph – stories unaccounted for - about
22% in both – a high no. as compared to Hindu (10%)
Telegraph & Hindu give more importance to readers (4.3% stories) as
compared to TOI (1.6%)
25. TOI (weekdays)
Geographic focus
none local
10.9% 8.9%
state/regional
12.5%
international
29.7%
national
38.0%
28. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Geographic Focus
Same coverage given to national stories during weekdays in all 3
newspapers – around 40%
Hindu covers more local & regional based stories (31% total) and gives
less visibility to international stories (14.7%)
Telegraph – TOI moving on a similar path – covering around 20% local
+ regional stories and around 30% international stories
Stories without geographical focus – same in all three (around 10%)
29. TOI (weekdays)
Treatment
feature
25.2%
commentary/criticism
8.6%
other
1.3%
general new s
64.9%
30. Hindu (weekdays)
Treatment
feature
9.8%
commentary/criticism
10.7%
other
.9%
general new s
78.6%
31. Telegraph (weekdays)
Treatment
feature
15.0%
commentary/criticism
10.4%
other
1.2%
general new s
73.3%
32. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Treatment
TOI covers least no. of hard core news – about 65%, with 25%
features and 9% stories giving advice/ opinion/ criticisms
Hindu publishes about 79% news stories with less importance on
features (9.8%)
Telegraph has 73% news stories with 15% emphasis on features and
10% advice columns
33. TOI (weekdays)
THEME
Other
Politics/Government/
17.9%
22.4%
Other
4.2%
Ordinary People
5.1%
Police/crime/courts/
Education
10.5%
4.2%
Entertainment
Business, Economics
12.8%
14.1%
Sports
8.9%
36. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Theme
Stories revolving around the theme Politics/ Government/ War
dominate in all three newspapers (around 25%)
Entertainment stories are about 12% in Telegraph & TOI whereas it is
half of that in Hindu
However, Hindu is the only newspaper which gives coverage to
community announcements such as some play, musical function, arts
exhibition, etc taking place in the city
Stories relating to education and ordinary people have more coverage
in TOI (above 4%) which is not the case in the other two.
37. TOI (weekdays)
Politics
SUB_THEM
Other
4.3% Police/crime/courts/
20.0%
others
27.1%
business, economics,
11.4%
elections
War/international co
12.9%
20.0%
education
4.3%
38. Hindu (weekdays)
SUB_THEM
Police/crime/courts/
17.9%
others
31.1%
business, economics,
10.4%
city planning, land
6.6%
War/international co
elections
22.6%
10.4%
education
.9%
39. Telegraph (weekdays)
SUB_THEM
others
Police/crime/courts/
25.3%
28.7%
city planning, land
5.7%
elections
business, economics,
2.3%
14.9%
education
2.3%
War/international co
20.7%
40. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Sub Theme (Politics)
In Telegraph police/ crime/ legal stories (29%), in Hindu - international
conflict (23%), and TOI - police/ crime & international conflict both
20%, are predominant
Telegraph has very few stories regarding elections (2%)
Business and policies involving govt. get around 10-11% coverage
TOI has very few stories relating to city planning & development
41. TOI (weekdays)
Entertainment
SUB_THEM
Missing
2.5% movies
other 12.5%
7.5% television
5.0%
pop music
10.0%
celebraty news
62.5%
42. Hindu (weekdays)
SUB_THEM
other movies
25.0% 25.0%
celebraty news television
4.2% 4.2%
pop music
4.2%
books
12.5%
fine arts
25.0%
43. Telegraph (weekdays)
SUB_THEM
movies
7.7%
television
5.1%
pop music
5.1%
other
fine arts
25.6%
2.6%
books
7.7%
celebraty news
46.2%
44. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Sub Theme (Entertainment)
Huge difference – celebrity news are predominant in both Telegraph
(46%) & TOI (62.5%) – in Hindu it gets only 4.2% coverage
Hindu gives more importance to topics revolving around fine arts and
books – 37.5% in all, Telegraph – 10.3% and TOI less than 2%
individually
45. TOI (weekdays)
Sports
SUB_THEM
womens sports
7.1%
high school
7.1%
professional
85.7%
46. Hindu (weekdays)
SUB_THEM
Other
23.4%
womens sports
9.4%
high school
4.7%
professional
62.5%
47. Telegraph (weekdays)
SUB_THEM
other
13.0%
w omens sports
1.9%
high school
1.9%
college
1.9%
professional
81.5%
48. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Sub Theme (Sports)
Again Telegraph and TOI have similar approach – professional sports
although dominant in all 3 gets around 83% coverage in both of the
above – Hindu is lower by 20%
Women’s sports is not highlighted in Telegraph, it is a mere 1.9%
TOI covers only professional sports, women’s sports & high school
sports
Hindu & Telegraph print 28% & 15% respectively, stories about other
areas of sports
49. TOI (weekdays)
PHOTO
Other
.6%
1
33.9%
Missing
59.1%
2
4.2%
3
2.2%
52. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
No. of Related Photographs
Hindu stands out once more – uses only 20% photographs to support
its stories
38% stories have photographs in Telegraph, wherein most of them
(32.8%) have only 1 photo
TOI’s 40% stories have photos – 6% out of them have more than 1
photograph
53. TOI (Sunday)
Origin of story
unknown
4.3%
reader Wire
6.4% 17.0%
staff
72.3%
54. Hindu (Sunday)
Origin of story
unknown
13.7%
Wire
12.9%
staff
73.4%
55. Telegraph (Sunday)
Origin of story
Wire
25.0%
unknown
32.3%
reader
1.0%
staff
41.7%
56. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Origin of Story
In the Sunday issue 73% stories are credited to staff in both Hindu &
TOI, But Telegraph only 41.7%
Telegraph has an enormous number of stories (32.3%) that did not
mention sources, TOI – 4.3% and Hindu – 13.7%
Telegraph also has the highest no. of stories credited to wire/ news
agencies (25%) – it is double the no. in TOI & Hindu
60. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Geographic Focus
National & international stories get equal coverage in TOI & Telegraph,
although TOI is less than 30% & Telegraph more than 30%
Regional stories are very few – a mere 6.3% in Telegraph, whereas it
is twice as that in TOI (14.9%) & Hindu (17.3%)
TOI has the highest no. of stories which do not have any geographical
focus (23.4%), in the other two it is below 10%
61. TOI (Sunday)
Treatment
commentary/criticism
17.0%
general news
feature
57.4%
25.5%
62. Hindu (Sunday)
Treatment
feature
13.7%
commentary/criticism
5.0%
other
1.4%
general new s
79.9%
63. Telegraph (Sunday)
Treatment
feature commentary/criticism
15.6% 6.3%
other
3.1%
general new s
75.0%
64. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Treatment
Here TOI depicts a true Sunday newspaper with more features(25.5%)
and opinion/ advice giving columns (17%) than hard core news
(57.4%), as compared to Telegraph and Hindu
Telegraph has 75% news stories & Hindu – 80% which is actually a
percent or two more than that found during weekdays
65. TOI (Sunday)
THEME
Other Politics/Government/
17.0% 17.0%
Other
6.4% Police/crime/courts/
Science and Technolo 12.8%
6.4%
Parenting and relati Business, Economics
4.3% 6.4%
Sports
Entertainment
8.5%
21.3%
66. Hindu (Sunday)
THEME
Other
Politics/Government/
16.5%
20.1%
Other
4.3%
Community Anouncemen
3.6%
Police/crime/courts/
Health, fitness and
12.9%
5.8%
Entertainment
Business, Economics
7.2%
9.4%
Sports
20.1%
67. Telegraph (Sunday)
THEME
Other
6.2%
Other
11.5% Politics/Government/
fashion and Beauty 31.2%
3.1%
Entertainment
12.5%
Police/crime/courts/
10.4%
Sports
Business, Economics
20.8%
4.2%
68. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Theme
Being a Sunday issue, stories providing entertainment are highest
(21.3%), business & economics goes down to 6.4% & new themes like
parenting & relationship and science & technology come up in TOI
Stories about government/ politics/ war (31.2%) still dominate the
Sunday Telegraph with sports stories following it at 20.8%.
Entertainment stories get same coverage as weekdays (12%). Fashion
& beauty is the only new theme featuring on a Sunday
In Hindu 62.5% stories are political/ government, police/ legal, sports,
& business oriented. Rest is covered by other themes - entertainment
(7.2%), health, fitness & medicine (5.8%), and community
announcements (3.6%) are more than 3%
69. TOI (Sunday)
Politics
SUB_THEM
War/international co
25.0%
Police/crime/courts/
50.0%
business, economics,
25.0%
70. Hindu (Sunday)
SUB_THEM
Police/crime/courts/
17.9%
others
35.7% business, economics,
7.1%
War/international co
14.3%
city planning, land
3.6% education
elections 7.1%
14.3%
71. Telegraph (Sunday)
SUB_THEM
Police/crime/courts/
20.0%
others
33.3%
business, economics,
13.3%
city planning, land
War/international co
6.7%
10.0%
elections
education
6.7%
10.0%
72. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Sub Theme (Politics)
Hindu & Telegraph cover all the aspects in the theme politics – in both
crime/ legal stories are high 20% & 18% resp.
Hindu – international conflict & elections have equal coverage – 14.3%
Telegraph – international conflict & education (10%) and elections &
city planning (6.7%) have equal coverage
TOI is very different here – 50% crime/ legal stories, 25% international
conflict & 25% business stories
73. TOI (Sunday)
Entertainment
SUB_THEM
movies
50.0%
celebraty news
50.0%
74. Hindu (Sunday)
SUB_THEM
other
10.0%
celebraty news
10.0%
movies
10.0%
fine arts
70.0%
76. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Sub Theme (Entertainment)
TOI again focuses on only two sub themes – celebrity news & movies
– both 50% each
Telegraph – celebrity news is pre-dominant with 66.7% coverage,
books 8.3%, remaining 25% covered by other sub themes
Hindu very surprisingly has fine arts (70%) as its main sub theme,
movies & celebrity news getting very less focus with 10% coverage
each
77. TOI (Sunday)
Sports
SUB_THEM
recreational
25.0%
professional
75.0%
78. Hindu (Sunday)
SUB_THEM
womens sports
3.6%
Other college
3.6% 3.6%
professional
89.3%
79. Telegraph (Sunday)
SUB_THEM
womens sports
5.0%
high school
5.0%
college
5.0%
professional
85.0%
80. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
Sub Theme (Sports)
Professional sports main sub theme in all three - Telegraph (85%),
Hindu (89.3%) & TOI (75%)
TOI shows same picture again – focus on professional and
recreational sports (25%) only
Hindu & Telegraph have a broad approach, they cover women’s sports,
high school as well as college sports
84. TOI Vs. Hindu Vs. Telegraph
No. of Related Photographs
TOI & Telegraph show same trends – 51% stories in both are
supported by photographs, where stories with 1 photo is predominant
– TOI (44.7%) & Telegraph (39.6%)
Hindu – only 80% stories do not have photographs – very different
from TOI & Telegraph
85. Comparison of the Average Total Area of the
Weekdays Issues of TOI, Hindu, Telegraph
Newspaper # Stories Total Area
Average
TOI 103.67 155.2
Hindu 162.33 148
Telegraph 130.67 176.51
86. Comparison of the Average Total Area of the
Sunday Issue of TOI, Hindu, Telegraph
Newspaper # Stories Total Area
Average
TOI 94 220.86
Hindu 151.5 206.75
Telegraph 137 209.91
87. Front Page Analysis
Comparison of stories on front page with those not on the front page
during weekdays
Comparison of stories on front page with those not on the front page
on Sundays
Comparison of stories on front page during weekdays and Sundays
91. TOI (FPW/ NFPW)
Geographic focus
international Geographic focus
24.2%
local none local
12.1% 12.1% 8.6%
state/regional state/regional
6.1% 13.2%
international
30.4%
national
national 35.7%
57.6%
92. Hindu (FPW/ NFPW)
Geographic focus Geographic focus
none
3.0% none
12.6% local
international local
22.0%
9.1% 15.2%
international
state/regional
15.2%
6.1%
state/regional
10.4%
national
national 39.9%
66.7%
93. Telegraph (FPW/ NFPW)
Geographic focus Geographic focus
none
4.3% none local
10.9% 14.5%
international
state/regional
21.7%
3.6%
local
4.3%
international
35.3%
national
35.6%
national
69.6%
94. TOI (FPW/ NFPW)
THEME
THEME
Other
Other
12.1% Politics/Government/
18.2%
20.7%
Ordinary People Politics/Government/ Other
12.1% 36.4% 4.3%
Ordinary People
Education 4.3% Police/crime/courts/
6.1% Education 10.0%
Science and Technolo 3.9%
6.1%
Entertainment Business, Economics
Business, Economics Police/crime/courts/
14.3% 14.3%
12.1% 15.2%
Sports
10.0%
95. Hindu (FPW/ NFPW)
THEME THEME
Other
Other
Politics/Government/
15.2%
20.2%
23.2%
Other Politics/Government/
Other
12.1% 42.4%
6.1%
Community Anouncemen Police/crime/courts/
Business, Economics 6.1% 12.1%
Entertainment
9.1%
6.1% Business, Economics
Sports 10.4%
Police/crime/courts/
15.9%
21.2%
96. Telegraph (FPW/ NFPW)
THEME THEME
Other
Sports
Politics/Government/
17.8%
17.4%
24.1%
Business, Economics Other
4.3% 4.3%
Entertainment
Police/crime/courts/
Police/crime/courts/ Politics/Government/ 12.9%
11.9%
17.4% 60.9%
Sports Business, Economics
16.5% 12.5%
100. TOI (FPS/ NFPS)
Geographic focus Geographic focus
local
international
9.8%
16.7% none
state/regional
26.8%
9.8%
state/regional
50.0%
national
national
24.4%
33.3%
international
29.3%
101. Hindu (FPS/ NFPS)
Geographic focus Geographic focus
none
international local
local 7.9%
16.7% 13.4%
25.0%
international
21.3% state/regional
16.5%
national
33.3% state/regional
25.0%
national
40.9%
102. Telegraph (FPS/ NFPS)
Geographic focus
Geographic focus
international
37.5%
none
local
11.4%
20.5%
local
25.0%
state/regional
international 6.8%
29.5%
national
national 31.8%
37.5%
103. TOI (FPS/ NFPS)
THEME
THEME
Other Politics/Government/
Ordinary People
14.6% 12.2%
16.7%
Other
Police/crime/courts/
7.3%
14.6%
Leisure Travel Politics/Government/ Science and Technolo
16.7% 50.0% 7.3% Business, Economics
Parenting and relati 4.9%
4.9%
Sports
Business, Economics 9.8%
Entertainment
16.7%
24.4%
104. Hindu (FPS/ NFPS)
THEME THEME
Ordinary People
8.3% Politics/Government/
Other
Entertainment 18.1%
21.3%
8.3%
Sports Politics/Government/
Other
Police/crime/courts/
8.3% 41.7%
4.7%
11.8%
Health, fitness and
Business, Economics
6.3%
8.3%
Business, Economics
Entertainment
9.4%
7.1%
Police/crime/courts/ Sports
25.0% 21.3%
105. Telegraph (FPS/ NFPS)
THEME THEME
Sports
Other
12.5% 6.8%
Business, Economics Other Politics/Government/
12.5% 12.5% 27.3%
fashion and Beauty
3.4%
Entertainment
13.6% Police/crime/courts/
11.4%
Business, Economics
Sports
3.4%
Politics/Government/ 21.6%
75.0%
109. TOI (FPW/ FPS)
Geographic focus
international Geographic focus
24.2%
local international
12.1% 16.7%
state/regional
6.1%
state/regional
50.0%
national
33.3%
national
57.6%
110. Hindu (FPW/ FPS)
Geographic focus Geographic focus
none
3.0% international
international local 16.7% local
9.1% 15.2% 25.0%
state/regional
6.1%
national
33.3% state/regional
25.0%
national
66.7%
111. Telegraph (FPW/ FPS)
Geographic focus
none Geographic focus
4.3%
international
international 37.5%
21.7%
local local
4.3% 25.0%
national
national
37.5%
69.6%
112. TOI (FPW/ FPS)
THEME THEME
Other
Ordinary People
12.1% 16.7%
Ordinary People Politics/Government/
12.1% 36.4%
Leisure Travel Politics/Government/
Education 16.7% 50.0%
6.1%
Science and Technolo
6.1%
Business, Economics Business, Economics
Police/crime/courts/
12.1% 16.7%
15.2%
113. Hindu (FPW/ FPS)
THEME THEME
Ordinary People
Other 8.3%
15.2% Entertainment
8.3%
Other Politics/Government/ Sports Politics/Government/
12.1% 42.4% 8.3% 41.7%
Business, Economics
Business, Economics 8.3%
9.1%
Police/crime/courts/
Police/crime/courts/
25.0%
21.2%