Use of Graphic Devices in a Competitive Situation: A Case Study of 10 Cities

Abstract

Graphic devices used by newspapers in a competitive situation were analyzed. The study included separately owned, broadsheet newspapers of at least 100,000 circulation in 10 U.S. cities. Findings were: 1) Pairs of competing newspapers in close circulation battles tend to be more similar in their use of graphic devices than those whose circulation is not close; 2) Newspaper trailers (less circulation) tend to use more modern graphic devices than newspaper leaders; 3) Morning papers use more traditional graphic devices than afternoon papers, which use more traditional devices than all-day papers; and 4) The larger circulation papers tended to be the most traditional while the smaller circulation papers tended to be the most modern.