amal

Newspaper reading habits of youth (a study conducted in Trivandrum city)

CHAPTER .1

INTRIDUCTION

Institute for studies in technology


Introduction

The saga of man’s existence as a social being is replete with accounts of

his attempts to comprehend the world better. And it is these attempts

together with its efforts to manipulate his surroundings which led to his

emergence as a super-being in the animal kingdom. For existence, it was

necessary for man to be kept informed about the events happening around

him. In olden days, news travelled by the word of mouth. And as time

rolled on, mankind swarmed the earth and news could no longer be

effectively conveyed through word of mouth. Means of mass

communication was a need as the answer.

A newspaper is a collection of information and entertainment printed on a

very cheap paper. It may be published daily, weekly, by weekly or once

in a month. Most issues of any paper are out of date as soon as the next

one is printed. Yet the contents of the newspaper are never out of date

since they are continuing history of mankind. At first there were fears that

the avenues of newspaper reading will be choked by the more flowing

media like radio and television but, it was only a passing phase.



The Newspaper

A newspaper is a periodical publication containing news regarding

current events, informative articles, diverse features, editorials, and

advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade

paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6,580 daily newspapers in

the world selling 395 million copies a day.

General-interest newspapers typically publish stories on local and

national political events and personalities, crime, business, entertainment,

society and sports. Most traditional papers also feature an editorial page

containing editorials written by an editor and columns that express the

personal opinions of writers. The newspaper is typically funded by

paid subscriptions and advertising.

Newspaper history

Before the advent of the newspaper, there were two major kinds of

periodical news publications: the handwritten news sheet, and single item

news publications. These existed simultaneously.

The Roman Empire published Acta Diurna ("Daily Acts"), or government

announcement bulletins, around 59 BC, as ordered by Julius Caesar. They

were carved in metal or stone and posted in public places.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acta_Diurna

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscription_business_model

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Column_(newspaper)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsprint


In China, early government-produced news sheets, called tipao, were

commonly used among court officials during the late Han dynasty (2nd

and 3rd centuries AD). Between 713 and 734, the Kaiyuan Za

Bao ("Bulletin of the Court") of the Chinese Tang Dynasty published

government news; it was handwritten on silk and read by government

officials. In 1582, there was the first reference to privately published

newssheets in Beijing, during the late Ming Dynasty;

Early publications played into the development of what would today be

recognized as the newspaper, which came about around 1601. Around the

15th and 16th centuries, in England and France, long news accounts

called "relations" were published; in Spain they were called "relaciones".

Newspapers and India

The first major newspaper in India, The Bengal Gazette—was started in

1780 under the British Raj by James Augustus Hickey. Other newspapers

such as The India Gazette, The Calcutta Gazette, The Madras

Courier (1785), The Bombay Herald (1789) etc. soon followed. These

newspapers carried news of the areas under the British rule. The Bombay

Samachar, founded in 1822 and printed in Gujarati is the oldest

newspaper in Asia still in print. The Times of India was founded in 1838

as The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce by Bennett, Coleman


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times_of_India

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarati_language

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombay_Samachar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombay_Samachar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_Dynasty

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_Dynasty

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiyuan_Za_Bao

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiyuan_Za_Bao

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipao

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China


and Company, a colonial enterprise now owned by an Indian

conglomerate. In the 1950s 214 daily newspapers were published in the

country. Out of these, 44 were English language dailies while the rest

were published in various regional and national languages

The main regional newspapers of India include the Malayalam

language Malayala Manorama (published from: Kerala, daily circulation:

673,000), the Hindi-language Dainik Jagran (published from: Uttar

Pradesh, daily circulation in 2006: 580,000), and theAnandabazar

Patrika (published from: Kolkata, daily circulation in 2006:

435,000). The Times of India Group, the Indian Express Group,

the Hindustan Times Group, the Hindu Group and the Anandabazar

Patrika Group are the main print media houses of the country. The

Anandabazar Patrika group runs the oldest surviving Hindi newspaper in

India.

Newspapers and Kerala

The history of news media in Kerala begins with the publication

of Rajyasamacharam, the first newspaper of Kerala. This was started for

religious propagation by the Christian missionaries of Basel Mission in

June 1847 from Illikunnu near Thalassery (Tellicherry). Subsequently


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basel_Mission

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rajyasamacharam&action=edit&redlink=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hindu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustan_Times

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Indian_Express

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times_Group

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anandabazar_Patrika

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anandabazar_Patrika

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttar_Pradesh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttar_Pradesh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dainik_Jagran

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayala_Manorama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam_language

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam_language


two more newspapers Paschimodayam (1847 October)

and Njananikshepam (1848 November) came out from Tellicherry and

Kottayam respectively. Another major development was the publication

of Nasrani Deepika on 15 April 1887 from Mannanam near Kottayam as

a fortnightly. The publication started under the editorship of a Catholic

priest Nidhiry Mani Kathanar later became a daily newspaper on 3

January 1927. The paper was renamed as Deepika in 1938 and it

continues to be published even today. Malayala Manorama was started

from Kottayam on 22 March 1890 by Kandathil Varghese Mappillai as a

weekly. This became a daily in 1928 and is the largest circulating daily of

Kerala today. K. Ramakrishna Pillai popularly known

as Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai is the first journalist in Kerala

who was exiled. He was exiled from the erstwhile princely state

of Travancore in 26 September 1910, for criticizing the then rulers. He is

also credited with authoring the first book on journalism titled Vrithantha

Pathra Pravarthanam in Malayalam as early as in 1912. Kerala

Kaumudi was started in 1911 in Mayyanad in Kollam under the

editorship ofC.V. Kunhiraman as a weekly and was later converted to a

daily and is one of the leading newspapers

today. Mathrubhumi newspaper was started as part of the nationalist

movement and Indian independence movement on 18 March 1923, under


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathrubhumi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.V._Kunhiraman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kollam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_Kaumudi


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travancore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swadeshabhimani_Ramakrishna_Pillai

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kottayam


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepika_(newspaper)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nidhiry_Mani_Kathanar

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nasrani_Deepika&action=edit&redlink=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Njananikshepam&action=edit&redlink=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paschimodayam&action=edit&redlink=1


the editorship of K. P. Kesava Menon. It was started as a tri-weekly

at Kozhikode and was later made a daily in 6 April 1930. Today it is the

second largest circulated daily of Kerala.

Circulations in Kerala

The most widely circulating Malayalam-language

newspapers include Malayala

Manorama, Mathrubhumi, Madhyamam, KeralaKaumudi, Desabhimani,

Deepika, Mangalam,Janayugam, Thejas, Varthamanam, Chandrika, Janm

abhumi, Siraj Daily,Udaya keralam and Metro Vaartha.

Among list of Malayalam periodicals major Malayalam periodicals

are Mathrubhumi weekly, Madhyamam weekly, India Today

Malayalam, Dhanam (Business Magazine),Chithrabhumi, Balarama

(Comics), Thejas, Kanyaka and Bhashaposhini


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhashaposhini

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanyaka_(magazine)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thejas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balarama_(Comics)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balarama_(Comics)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chithrabhumi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhanam_(Business_Magazine)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Today

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Today

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhyamam_weekly


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Malayalam_periodicals

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Vaartha

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Udaya_keralam&action=edit&redlink=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siraj_Daily

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janmabhumi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janmabhumi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrika

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varthamanam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thejas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janayugam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangalam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepika_(newspaper)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desabhimani


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhyamam




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Malayalam_language_newspapers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Malayalam_language_newspapers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kozhikode

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._P._Kesava_Menon


Problems Faced by Newspapers TodayImpact of Television and Internet on Newspapers

By the late 1990s, the availability of news via 24-hour television

channels and then the Internet posed an ongoing challenge to the business

model of most newspapers in developed countries. Paid circulation has

declined, while advertising revenue — which makes up the bulk of most

newspapers’ income — has been shifting from print to the new media,

resulting in a general decline in profits. Many newspapers around the

world launched online editions in an attempt to follow or stay ahead of

their audience.

However, in the rest of the world, cheaper printing and distribution,

increased literacy, the growing middle class and other factors have more

than compensated for the emergence of electronic media and newspapers

continue to grow.

On 10 April 1995, The American Reporter became the first daily

newspaper, with its own paid reporters around the world and all-original

content, to start on the Internet. The editor-in-chief and founder is Joe

Shea. The site is owned by 400 journalists.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Shea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Shea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Reporter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspaper_circulation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_model

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_model

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_journalism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:24-hour_television_news_channels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:24-hour_television_news_channels


The future of newspapers in countries with easy internet access has been

widely debated as the industry has faced down soaring newsprint prices,

slumping ad sales, the loss of much classified advertising and precipitous

drops in circulation. In recent years the number of newspapers slated for

closure, bankruptcy or severe cutbacks has risen—especially in the

United States, where the industry has shed a fifth of its journalists since

2001. Revenue has plunged while competition from internet media has

squeezed older print publishers.

The debate has become more urgent lately, as a deepening recession has

shaved profits, and as once-explosive growth in newspaper web revenues

has leveled off, forestalling what the industry hoped would become an

important source of revenue. At issue is whether the newspaper industry

faces a cyclical trough, or whether new technology has rendered obsolete

newspapers in their traditional format.

The late 2000s-early 2010s global recession, combined with the rapid

growth of web-based alternatives, caused a serious decline in advertising

and circulation, as many papers closed or sharply retrenched operations.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Recession

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_cycle


Newspaper Reading Habits of Youth

A scrutiny of the supreme position of newspapers in the information

unfolds into certain outstanding characteristics. The foremost factor is

that the newspaper does not force attendance of person at a prescribed

time like radio, television or internet. The person can choose his/her own

time and place to stretch the legs and go through the contents leisurely.

Also print media has the advantage of retain ability, which only internet

has. Again the phenomenon of brand loyalty urges the reader to stomach

the contents unsuspectingly, but at same time exercising discretion. So

daily the reader advances to the front door seeking the latest copy of

his/her favourite newspaper

Newspaper reading has been maintained itself as a chronic habit which

refuses to go of the social man. Intellectual ability has shown to be a

major correlate of newspaper reading with the brighter children picking

up the habit earlier. Studies say that as people grow older, they

increasingly prefer serious information content. Also the interest in

serious information material rises with education.

Income forms another important criterion which determines the specific

preference exercised by the reader. Income level determines one’s living

conditions and this in turn presents the individual with a whole new set of



priority which is manifested in one’s preference for news items. There are

other determining factors such as sex, social, marital status, religion,

castes, etc

When we say the habitual engagement with the newspaper is not a forced

exercise and it is particularly true because every reader does not go

through the line and length of the newspaper every day. There are certain

news items which the reader searches out religiously. The other news

items succeed in gaining attention if the reader finds it catchy and

worthwhile. But it is the fact that some news items occur in daily reading

routine of the individual.

Expectations from Newspapers



Nowadays majority of the public have grown up to realization that news

accounts may not always be carbon copies of day to day events. These

realizations towards newspapers can cause the readers a feeling of

disinterest. But if the headlines catch reader’s interest it will quickly

attract the attention to what is given below it. The press should take active

interest to see that it fulfils the expectations of the public to the best of

their ability. When we go into the complexities of news making, we find

that the people’s attitude towards newspapers and their expectations from

it calls for caution in maintaining the positive aspects of its reputation. So

newspapers have to rise above mere opinion surveys and enter into

serious research concerning its continued presence in modern electronic

world. The proper moulding of the attitudes of our people will shape the

outlook of the nation. Newspapers play an important role in this and for

that it should be truthful as far as reporting to public. A newspaper may

not openly call out its view towards a political party or any religious

organizations. It is the necessary for newspapers to rise above petty

business tricks and sensational mischief and be wise to the fact that they

are a group of brains who can be powerful lever in upholding what is

called civic sense.



CHAPTER.2

OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY

Rationale of the study



In spite of the confusion caused by the great exodus of the people from

rural to urban areas, the numerous day to day events never fail to catch

our attention. Here the mass media functions and dutifully tether the

public’s attention towards the information spectra. Although newspapers

nowadays face market collapses, closures and severe bankruptcy or

cutbacks in US and UK, the sales rose in Latin America, Asia and Middle

East.

Kerala, which experiences a rural-urban continue carries in it a conscious

and literate public which can be guided or misguided through the

newspapers. The press is today a powerful medium with an extensive

reach among the public. In spite of the advent of more attractive media

like radio, television, internet etc. newspaper is still fighting a strong

battle to prove its continued relevant in today’s electronic era. Also

habitual newspaper reading crystallises as the society becomes literate

and economically sound.

Objectives of the study



The purpose of this is to understand in detail the newspaper reading

habits of the youth in Trivandrum city. The major objectives are:

To comprehend the preference of the different strata of people for

news items.

To understand the attitude of different sections of youth towards

newspapers and their expectations from it.

To recognize the impact effected by newspapers on the youth.

Operational Definitions

The major operational definitions include newspaper, reading habits, and

youth.

Newspapers : A daily publication giving reports of current events,

and editorial comments, features, advertisements etc. It is usually

distributed in the mornings, but there are evening newspapers

together with cheaper and less credible versions. In our study

popular morning newspapers are considered.

Reading habits : It refers to habitual action of going through

contents of newspapers to perceive and understand the ideas

conveyed and to deduce their intentions and meanings. The Extend

and frequency of newspaper reading together with the specific

areas of interest according to the different variables are included.



Youth : The youth in the study include young men and women in

the age group of eighteen to forty hailing from different strata of

society.

Methodology



Methodology includes a collection of theories, concepts or ideas as they

relate to a particular discipline or field of inquiry. The researcher is

planning to do the study by the direct contact and observations made

among the youth in Trivandrum city.

Sample

From among the youth in Trivandrum city, sixty men and sixty women

were chosen. Also from the sample forty were students, ten were

housewives and remaining seventy were employees.

Sampling Area and Duration

Within duration of fifteen days, educational institutions, offices and

residences within city limits were approached.

Research Design

The study is descriptive in the sense that it determines the characteristics

of the group and associates it with their newspaper reading.

Data collection

For this study, the primary data has been collected by interviewing the

chosen sample. Secondary data includes information from books,

journals, news magazines and internet.

Tools of data collection



Interview schedule was the chief instrument and the respondents wished

to fill up handed out interview schedule. Questions were put up to

understand the personal details, preference towards news items, attitude

towards newspapers and the impact the respondents felts that the

newspaper had on them. Even though the questions were closed, adequate

alternatives were given.

Variables

Age and sex were introduced as variables. The educational level, social

status and range of family income were determined. Type of family,

marital status, and place of growing up were asked to check whether they

function as determinant variables. Religion and castes of the respondents

were recorded to assess whether they play a significant role in the choice

of newspapers and the specific areas of interest.

Data Analysis

After the data is collected through observations or enquiry, we must

prepare them for presentations and analysis. Here data collected was

constituted in tables after the percentages of the different responses for

different variables were calculated. Pie charts have been used to present

the interesting data, and for the rest bar diagrams were used.

Limitations of study



Most of the respondents were employees and students which make the

investigator difficult to find time to interview them. However, eventually

it was possible to fulfil the main aims and objectives of this study in a

desired manner. The findings of the study are solely based on the

information provided by the respondents.



CHAPTER.3

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

1. Age



From among the youth in Trivandrum city, sixty men and sixty women

were chosen as respondents. Of which, forty two respondents were at the

age limit of eighteen to twenty four, twenty one at twenty five to thirty

two and fifty seven of them at thirty three and forty.

Age of Respondents

Age Number Percentage

18-24 42 35

25-32 21 18

33-40 57 47

TOTAL 120 100

Pie Chart showing Age of Respondents



2. Occupational Status


Age

18-2425-3233-40


From the one twenty respondents chosen, forty were students, seventy

were employees, and ten were housewives. Of the seventy employees

selected forty are professionals including doctors, engineering people etc.

Students were selected irrespective of their institutions, academics or

studies.

Occupational Status of Respondents

Occupation Number Percentage

Students 40 33

Employees 70 58

Housewives 10 9

TOTAL 120 100



Pie Chart showing Occupational Status of Respondents

Occupational Status

StudentsEmployeesHousewives

3. Language Preference in Newspapers



Occupational status & Language Preference in Newspapers

Occupation English Malayalam both

Students 5(13) 12(30) 23(57)

Employees 12(17) 17(24) 41(59)

Housewives 1(10) 4(40) 5(50)

Bar Diagram on Language Preference of Newspapers

students employees housewives0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

englishmalayalamboth



The people in Kerala are high in their intellectual aspirations and charged

up with political consciousness and so they preferred to look into both

Malayalam and English newspapers. Of the respondents, employees with

their solidified interest in newspapers actually looked into both (59%),

and so are the students (57%) with library facilities and all, does the

same. Again among housewives, it was found that they also read both

newspapers (50%) because a sizeable number of households subscribe to

more than one newspaper.

4. Frequency of News reading



Age & Frequency of News reading

Age Daily Occasionally Rarely Never

18-24 38(83) 8(17) 0(0) 0(0)

25-32 10(59) 6(35) 1(6) 0(0)

33-40 44(77) 8(14) 5(9) 0(0)

Bar Diagram on Age & Frequency of News reading

18-24 25-32 33-400

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

DailyOccasionallyRarelyNever



Here 83% of the respondents in the 18-24 age group, entertained

newspapers daily because of the overwhelming interest has to be sought

in employment aspirations of this age group which makes knowledge

gathering through newspapers a compulsory habit. Then came the 33-40

age group (77%) , the veterans among the youth in whom the routine of

the newspaper reading has been crystallized from earlier stages. But the

fact is that the age group 25-32 was not far behind which tells that age is

not a very decisive factor on deciding frequency of newspaper reading.

5. Extend of Newspaper Reading



Sex & extend of Newspaper reading

Sex Headlines Whole storySome

ArticlesJust Scan

Males 7(11) 12(20) 38(64) 3(5)Females 8(13) 10(17) 37(62) 5(8)

Bar Diagram on Sex & extend of Newspaper reading

Male Female0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

HeadlinesWhole StorySome articlesJust scan



It was only 18% of the respondents who went through the whole

newspaper every day. This is because, not many are not permitted the

time nor nurture the interest to make it a fact. But 63% of both males and

females took interest in reading some articles every day, and so the

newspaper reports hold interest with varying individual preferences. But,

newspaper reading is so much limited that only 4% are satisfied by only

scanning through the paper. Here sex was not a decisive variable.

6. Brand of Malayalam Newspaper



Religion and Brand of Malayalam Newspaper

ReligionMalayala

ManoramaMathru bhoomi

Kerala Kaumudi

Two or more of

theseothers None

Hindu 14(19) 20(27) 17(22) 20(27) 0(0) 4(5)

Christians

19(54) 3(9) 1(3) 5(14) 0(0) 7(20)

Muslims 4(40) 2(20) 0(0) 3(30) 1(10) 0(0)

Bar diagram on

Religion and Brand of Malayalam Newspaper

Hindu Christians Muslims0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Malayala ManoramaMathrubhoomiKerala kaumidiTwo or more of theseOthersNone



It was interesting to note that the brand loyalty of newspapers had

religion as a decisive factor. It is not easy to break a habit which has often

built up over generations. Respondents were more inclined to their

respective religion own newspapers. This type of inclination towards

newspapers is due to certain apprehensions on the part of readers towards

newspapers own by religious groups.

7. Accusation of Bias towards Newspapers



Religion and Accusation of Bias towards Newspapers

Religion Always Sometimes Rarely Never

Hindu 14(21) 45(65) 5(7) 5(7)

Christians 8(20) 28(70) 2(5) 2(5)

Muslims 2(18) 7(64) 2(18) 0(0)

Bar Graph on Religion and Accusation of Bias towards Newspapers

Hindu Christians Muslims0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

AlwaysSometimesRarelyNever



Earlier, it was found that religion plays an important part in deciding the

brand of newspapers. Connecting that with this table we understand that

suspicious of bias on the part of newspapers is the reason for brand

loyalty inclined to newspaper groups connected to specific religions. All

respondents irrespective of their religion felt so.

8. Bias towards Newspapers



Caste and Bias towards Newspapers

Caste Always Something Rarely Never

FC 12(16) 57(74) 4(6) 3(4)

OBC 8(30) 16(60) 2(8) 1(2)

SC/ST 5(34) 5(34) 2(12) 3(20)

Bar Diagram on Caste and Bias towards Newspapers

FC OBC SC/ST0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

AlwaysSometimesRarelyNever



Here religion and caste are parallel criterions in deciding our attitudes.

The forward castes which are troubled do not feel that newspapers are

biased. But the respondents belonging to other backward castes and

scheduled caste/tribes experience a lot of bias in newspaper reports.



9. Newspaper help in National Integration

Sex and Newspaper help in National Integration

Sex Yes No

Males 52(87) 8(13)

Females 55(92) 5(8)

Bar Graph on Sex and Newspaper help in National Integration

Males Females0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

YesNo



It is evident that there is no significant correlation between the variables,

sex of individual and his/hers view of newspaper that it promotes of

national integration. Both males and females are suspicious towards

newspapers regarding this role. This is because they confront a lot of

corruption due to power lobbies in their day to day life which in turn

makes them view newspapers in similar lights.

10. Interest in Opinion polls



Age and Interest in Opinion polls

Age Yes No

18-24 29(62) 18(38)

25-32 13(81) 3(19)

33-40 30(53) 27(47)

Bar Diagram on Age and Interest in Opinion polls

Yes No0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

18-2425-3233-40



Here the age group 25-32 showed active interest. This is the group which

is young and active and at the same time, have the time and interest in

public affairs, surveys, polls conducted in this directions. Students with

their active and fermenting disposition are lead to such polls. The 33-40

age group, also shows active interest in highlighting the remarkable social

and political consciousness of youth in Kerala, and in our study,

Trivandrum city.

11. Newspaper bring Problems to Focus



Occupational Status and Newspaper bring Problems to Focus

Occupation Yes Sometimes No

Students 6(15) 29(73) 5(12)

Employees 10(14) 46(66) 14(20)

Housewives 2(20) 6(60) 2(20)

Bar Diagram on Occupational Status and Newspaper bring Problems to Focus

Students Employees Housewives0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

YesSometimesNo



Even though newspapers aim in the first place is to go better circulation

for paper, they do bring problems to focus because the topic discussed

has to be relevant to catch the respect of the reader. Students with their

innate impulsiveness feel that newspapers are inconsistent with regard to

this function (73%). But housewives think more positively because they

have the peaceful atmosphere at home to go leisurely through the

contents of the newspaper which bring different problems to focus.



12. Interest in Writing to Newspapers

Occupational Status and Interest in Writing to Newspapers

Occupation Yes No

Students 15(38) 25(62)

Employee 10(14) 60(86)

Housewives 2(20) 8(80)

Bar Diagram on Occupational Status and Interest in Writing to Newspapers


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

YesNo



Effective and interesting accounts in the newspaper encourages the reader

for further action and this goes on to encourage the reader to ponder on

the subsequent plan of action and suggest it to the newspaper through

mails. If the reader finds any reports offensive, he/she can write and

express his/her feelings. But in reality newspapers fail to generate the

achievable levels of interest and those who get inspired to write are as

low at 23%.



13. Help in Participation of Public in the Affairs of the State

Occupational Status and Help in Participation of

Public in the Affairs of the State

Occupation Yes Sometimes No

Students 13(33) 10(25) 17(42)

Employees 12(18) 29(41) 29(41)

Housewives 0(0) 3(30) 7(70)

Bar Diagram on Occupational Status and Help in Participation of

Public in the Affairs of the State


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

YesSometimesNo



A major point elicited about newspapers is that they should be run for

public service then only they can help in shaping youth to actively

participate in public affairs of the state. Students are active and they

derive a lot of their information and new developments from newspapers,

so they responded 33%. Employees who seldom react gave a warm

response in positive direction.



14. Newspaper reading after the Advent of Internet

Age and Newspaper reading after the Advent of Internet

Age Increased Same Decreased

18-24 2(5) 35(82) 6(13)

25-32 3(13) 15(70) 4(17)

33-40 4(12) 34(59) 17(29)

Bar Diagram on Age and Newspaper reading after the Advent of Internet

18-24 25-32 33-400

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

IncreasedSameDecreased



A newspaper for children and adults seem to be more effective and rather

easy in conveying quick information than detailed information. The age

group of 33-40 are in constant relationship with the internet as they have

office works and business run through it. This makes them think that

internet has an upper hand over newspapers in reporting the outside

happenings.



15. Change in Attitudes

Occupational Status and Change in Attitudes

Occupation Yes No

Students 34(85) 6(15)

Employees 59(84) 11(16)

Housewives 9(90) 1(10)

Bar Graph on Occupational Status and Change in Attitudes


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

YesNo



Experiments have demonstrated that a change in attitudes produce

subsequent changes in expressed information. Here housewives were the

most affected because they gather information in the form of attitudes

after consulting the media easily available at home.



16. Influence in Voting Choices

Age and Influence in Voting Choices

Age Yes No18-24 31(72) 13(28)25-32 15(79) 4(21)33-40 41(71) 16(29)

Bar Diagram on Age and Influence in Voting Choices

18-24 25-32 33-400

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

YesNo



Of the three groups the 25-32 age group made maximum use of

newspapers in making voting choices. This group has been seen in other

tables also to be making the maximum advantage from newspapers. But

newspapers sometimes work for securing the win for political activists of

their choice. And it can be achieved because 74% of the youth depend on

newspapers to decide on their voting choices.



17. Responsibility of Citizens

Occupational Status and Responsibility of Citizens

Occupation Yes Sometimes NoStudent 14(35) 23(58) 3(7)

Employee 16(23) 49(70) 5(7)Housewives 1(10) 8(80) 1(10)

Bar Graph on Occupational Status and Responsibility of Citizens

Student Employees Housewives0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

YesSometimesNo



Only 26% of the respondents gave ‘Yes’ as the choice. Of the students

were the most enthusiastic (35%), but the employees were pathetic. This

may be due to that many believe that it is no use writing to newspaper for

the solution of a problem. Only 10% of the housewives thought that it

was their duty to write to newspapers on prevailing problem.



conclusion

Conclusion



The newspaper has become an inseparable companion of modern man

who is always news hungry. The intention of this piece of research was to

explore into the details of the news reading act which will no doubt

continue to influence the sentiments prevailing in our society. The most

obvious conclusion reached from the study is that age, sex, and

occupation are not very important as far as the interest in newspapers is

concerned. But, education proves to be a variable which decides the level

of interest and comprehension.

We have reached a stage where every individual irrespective of religion

caste and status makes it a point to be kept well informed of the world

around him. This in turn helps him to be better poised to win the battles

of his complex world. So in the modern age, newspaper is a very

powerful buoy which can keep afloat a positive attitude of enthusiasm

and wisdom among the public, towards the society which they live.

The people in Kerala are high in their intellectual aspirations and charged

up with political consciousness and so they preferred to look into both

Malayalam and English newspapers.

The respondents in the 18-24 age group, entertained newspapers daily

because of the overwhelming interest has to be sought in employment

aspirations of this age group which makes knowledge gathering through



newspapers a compulsory habit. It was only 18% of the respondents who

went through the whole newspaper every day. This is because, not many

are not permitted the time nor nurture the interest to make it a fact.

It was interesting to note that the brand loyalty of newspapers had

religion as a decisive factor. It is not easy to break a habit which has often

built up over generations. Also we understand that suspicious of bias on

the part of newspapers is the reason for brand loyalty inclined to

newspaper groups connected to specific religions. The respondents

belonging to other backward castes and scheduled caste/tribes experience

a lot of bias in newspaper reports.

It is evident that there is no significant correlation between the variables,

sex of individual and his/hers view of newspaper that it promotes of

national integration. The group which is young and active and at the same

time, have the time and interest in public affairs, surveys, polls conducted

in this directions.

Even though newspapers aim in the first place is to go better circulation

for paper, they do bring problems to focus because the topic discussed

has to be relevant to catch the respect of the reader. Effective and

interesting accounts in the newspaper encourages the reader for further

action and this goes on to encourage the reader to ponder on the



subsequent plan of action and suggest it to the newspaper through mails.

A major point elicited about newspapers is that they should be run for

public service then only they can help in shaping youth to actively

participate in public affairs of the state. Experiments have demonstrated

that a change in attitudes produce subsequent changes in expressed

information.

Finally, it is concluded that, newspapers have not succeeded in

inculcating a habit of active response on the part of the readers due to

certain irresponsible instances of bias and manipulation evident to the

reader while going through his/her daily routine of newspaper reading.



REFERENCES

BOOKS



The History of Indian Press: Growth of Newspapers in India

Journalism in India: From the Earlier Times to the Present Day

How to do your Research Projects

The Social project Methodology

WEBSITES

http://en.wikipedia.org

downtownproject.com

www.dosomething.org

www.ask.com


http://www.ask.com/

http://www.dosomething.org/


APPENDIX

Newspaper Reading Habits of Youth

(A Study conducted in Trivandrum city)

1. Name :

2. Age : 18-24 / 25-32 / 33-40



3. Sex : Male / Female

4. Social StatuS : Student / Employee /

Businessman /Housewife

/Professional

5. Type of Family : Nuclear Family Joint Family

Single Hostel/lodge dweller

6. Marital Status : Married Unmarried Widow/

Widower Divorcee/Separated

7. Religion : Hindu Christian Muslim Others

8. Castes : FC OBC SC ST

9. Which language newspaper do you read?

Malayalam/ English /Both

10. Which of these newspapers do you read?

Malayala manorama /Mathrubhoomi/ Keralakaumudi

Madhyamam/ Others

11. How often do you read newspapers?

Daily Occasionally Rarely Never

12. Has your newspaper reading changed after the advent of internet?

Increased Same Decreased



13. What is your extend of newspaper reading?

Headlines Whole story Some articles Just scan

14. Do newspapers help in National Integration?

Yes /No

15. Do newspapers bring change in attitudes/views?

Yes/ No

16. Do newspapers influence voting choices?

Yes/No

17. Do newspapers bring distrust to opposite sex?

Yes/ No

18. Are you interested in opinion polls conducted by newspapers?

Yes /No

19. Are newspapers biased?

Always/ Sometimes/ Rarely /Never

20. Do newspapers bring problems to the focus of authorities?

Yes /Sometimes/ No

21. Have you ever brought a problem in focus through newspapers?

Yes/ No

22. Do you feel you should do it as a citizen?

Yes/ Sometimes/ No



23.Do newspapers help you to personally participate in the affairs of

the state?

Yes/ Sometimes/ No



BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ahuja B N: The History of Indian Press: Growth of Newspapers in India,

New Delhi: Surjeet Piblications.

Bhatt S C: Broadcast Journalism: Basic Principles, New Delhi, Har

Anand Pudlications.



Choondal: The Missionaries and Malayalam Journalism, Trishur

Minerva Books

Parthasarathy Rangaswamy: Journalism in India: From the Earlier Times

to the Present Day, New Delhi: Sterling publications Private Ltd.

Prof. Narayana Menon: The Communication Revolution, New Delhi,

National Park Trust

Prof M L Khan and Kausal Kumar: Studies on Modern Mass Media,

Delhi, Kanishka publications


amal

Documents

major newspaper

newspaper historybefore

news sheets

trivandrum city newspaper

avenues of newspaper

handwritten news sheet

long news accounts

single item news publications