Is Local News Front-Page News?
People hear about governmental activities and decisions through various news media. News sources must make decisions about which stories are most important and which will interest their readers, viewers, or listeners the most.
Examine
Look at the front page of your daily newspaper or online news source. How many stories relate to various levels of government in Canada (federal, provincial/territorial, local)? Which level of government (federal, provincial/territorial, or local) received the most coverage in this day’s issue?
Graph
Do the same procedure for the period of one week. Graph your results.
Analyze
What do the results indicate to you about the political coverage in your local news sources(s)?
Evaluate
Evaluate whether the political coverage reflects the interests of your community.