Fairness and Balance in the Prestige Press

Abstract

A comparison of nine prestige newspapers, such as the New York Times and Washington Post, and a sample of large circulation, but less prestigious, newspapers finds prestige newspapers are more likely to cover both sides of community controversy, with better balanced news. Newspapers demonstrating best balance were the Times, Post, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Findings are presented in the context of the social responsibility theory of the press.