Electronic magazines : soft news programs on network television

Author(s)

• Spragens, William C.

Bibliographic Information

Electronic magazines : soft news programs on network television

William C. Spragens

（Praeger series in political communication）

Praeger, 1995

• : alk. paper

Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. [135]-141) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

The traditional documentary programming of network television's bygone era has given way to the recent explosion of ratings-driven, personality-based news magazine programming. While ostensibly conforming to a high standard of public service, these magazines, as even some of their producers admit, must succumb to the forces of public appetite and profit maximization in order to be competitive. This study examines this phenomenon of the electronic magazine and shows how the soft news programs affect the public's view of American politics and culture. Maintaining the distinction between the syndicated, tabloid-style programming (whose survival depends almost entirely on rating success) and the more responsibly conceived network magazine programming, Spragens provides a thorough content analysis of 60 Minutes, Dateline NBC, 20/20, and similar network series. His study traces the development of the television magazine genre from the original 60 Minutes through the current crop of news programs; it tracks the soft/hard or sensational/serious content dichotomy and its relation to ratings; and it draws conclusions about the trends in soft news programming and their impact on the American public.

Table of Contents

• Preface Introduction The Development of Magazine Programming Early Soft News Programs: "60 Minutes" Trends Away from Traditional Documentaries Content Analysis of 1992 "60 Minutes" Programs Beginnings and Development of "48 Hours" Series "Street Stories" Program Content in 1992 and 1993 "West 57th" Contents
• HIV/AIDS and Ocean Salvage Segments Aggressive Trends in Programming on ABC Magazines Audience Rankings (1985-1993) -- Interpreting Data "Tabloids" versus Magazine Programs: Networks' Role as Standard Setter Appendix One: "60 Minutes" Broadcasts Appendix Two: "48 Hours" Broadcasts Appendix Three: "Street Stories" Broadcasts Appendix Four: "20/20" and "PrimeTime Live" Broadcasts Appendix Five: "Dateline NBC" Broadcasts Bibliography Index

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

• NCID: BA25960652
• ISBN:
  • 0275941558
• LCCN: 94042845
• Country Code: us
• Title Language Code: eng
• Text Language Code: eng
• Place of Publication: Westport, Conn.
• Pages/Volumes: xiv, 150 p.
• Size: 25 cm
• Classification:
  • NDC9 : 070.14
  • NDC9 : 699.253
  • LCC : PN4888.T4
  • DC20 : 070.1/95
• Subject Headings:
  • LCSH : Television broadcasting of news -- United States
  • LCSH : Documentary television programs -- United States
• Parent Bibliography ID:
  • BA10945655