The purpose of this Q study was to learn broadcast news professors' attitudes on the current state of local television news. The researcher also wished to uncover if professors with primarily teaching experience have different attitudes on local television news than professors with primarily professional broadcast experience.Nineteen professors in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan sorted Q statements regarding the quality of local television news. An analysis of their Q sorts found the participants fell into three categories: the Ultra-Critics, the Moderate-Critics, and the Minimal-Critics.The Ultra-Critics were very critical of local television news and had virtually nothing positive to say about the topic. The Moderate-Critics had some positive thoughts about local television news, but were still very critical. The Minimal-Critics were critical of local television news, but still had many positive thoughts on the industry.The researcher also found that professors with primarily professional broadcast experience were much more critical of the industry than professors with primarily teaching experience. / Department of Journalism

There is no abstract available for this thesis. / Department of Journalism