New Opportunities for Denver Newscasters Thesis

News stations have strict rules regarding the ethics of monetary compensation for stories (i.e. It isn't allowed), however, and this is likely an effort to bolster local sales by highlighting certain local businesses. This also provides a way for Denver news organizations to remain connected -- and appear connected -- to the community. internet advertising has found a fairly steady pattern, and the television stations that have news websites have employed the same types of banners, though often in more muted tones, that are found on most commercial websites.

What is the projected growth of the news broadcasting industry in the next 3-4 years in Denver?

Unfortunately, growth foes not seem very likely in the area of television news broadcasting in the Denver area for some time. Even assuming that the economic troubles end within the next year, the broadcast industry in the Denver area is largely saturated. Though there is certainly news that goes uncovered everyday, as mentioned above, there is also a large number of television broadcast stations with local news programs. There are at least ten television stations that deliver some combination of business, society, and entertainment news on a daily basis, most of them several times a day. There are also several radio stations that provide regular local and national news updates, all of which are available for online audio streaming. Public television and NPR are also quite strong in the Denver area.

This non-exhaustive list of news media outlets, which is restricted purely to broadcast news, reflects the saturation level of the Denver broadcasting market. Due to this level of saturation, the likelihood of any growth in the area within the next few years is very low. The change in population of Denver will have a lot to do with the future of broadcast media in the area, and these numbers do not paint an especially promising picture, either. As of 2008, Denver was behind the national average in population growth, and was growing at less than half the rate of most of the state of Colorado. Though the city is expanding, it isn't doing so fast enough to create a greater demand for the already well-established broadcast journalism in the area.

How will changes in broadcasting/newscasting affect the Denver community, and vice-versa?

The interplay between locally-focused broadcast journalism and the community it serves is complex and not always discernable. In the Denver area, there has always been a large and vocal advocacy for independent journalism, but (as mentioned above) many of these local outlets are simply no longer able to compete in the current economic times, and with available free media on television, radio, and the Internet. Coverage is likely to follow recent trends in sensationalism and human interest, with a reduction in coverage of local politics and other issues.

Te affect that this will have on the Denver community remains to be seen. There could be a backlash and reduction in viewers -- the opposite response that media outlets are hoping for -- but Denver might prove itself to be more gullible than it wants to believe. Independent or no, the almighty dollar usually wins out.

References

"Denver Colorado Local News Media." Accessed 30 June 2009. http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/6/402

"Denver Population Growth Statistics." Accessed 30 June 2009. http://www.clrsearch.com/RSS/Demographics/CO/Denver/Population_And_Growth

Rocky Mountain Media Watch. Accessed 30 June 2009. www.bigmedia.org