The Effect of Journalistic Co-Orientation on Press Coverage: A Time Series Analysis

Abstract

Journalistic co-orientation is defined as journalists’ use of other media with the function of ensuring legitimate news decisions or enhancing journalistic prestige, as well as promoting economic success under conditions of uncertainty. Among the different forms of co-orientation, the effect of the routine use of quality media as a source of orientation in news selections is analyzed. Data from a content analysis was used, covering the period of one year. In a time series analysis based on both linear models and neural networks, the news value conferred to a political issue by one of the two national German newspapers included in the study was shown to have an effect on the intensity of coverage by one of the two regional newspapers under consideration. There is a similar tendency for the evaluation of the issue. In particular, a non-linear component can be found in the relationship between the different newspapers' coverage.