Abstract

The present study investigated the self-reported print and online newspaper reading habits of students at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). . A survey was distributed to a convenience sampling of 87 students in August 2003. Respondents were asked to self-report their ideas, attitudes and opinions about and towards online and printed news. . The results support previous research, including a 1999 study at RIT as well as those conducted at Pennsylvania State University and by the Pew Research Center, which revealed that college students were not reading newspapers with any regularity, but still thought that keeping up with news was important. A majority of students prefer to receive all types of news online, with the exception of local news. Academic major has some effect on where students go to get their news information. Most students reported that online news was just as credible as online news, and most report that they would not be willing to pay for an online newspaper. Unlike previous research, the present sample of college students appear to be more accepting of the Internet as a news medium for a variety of reasons. The respondents' reasons for acceptance include, but are not limited to, convenience, the number of media options available online (including archiving, streaming videos and images) and the ability to control the interaction with news.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Rochester Institute of Technology--Students--Books and reading--Research; Newspaper reading--Research--New York (State)--Rochester; Electronic newspapers--Research--New York (State)--Rochester; College students--Books and reading--New York (State)--Roches

Publication Date

11-1-2003

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

Department of Communication (CLA)

Advisor

Sorce, Patricia

Advisor/Committee Member

Pugliese, Rudy

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: PN4888.R37 W5 2003

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Download

Share

COinS