Television news and the youth audience

Abstract

The aim of this study is to measure and evaluate prime time local television news bulletins consumption by Maltese youths, aged between 18 and 25 years. The study examines a number of parameters which throw light on the youths who watch local television news and those who do not. It also analyses a number of aspects related to the youth audience of the three principal television stations in Malta - TVM, Super ONE TV and Net TV - during prime time news bulletins. This study seeks to find an explanation as to if and why the youth audience is often neglected or not sufficiently catered for in the production of television news. For the purpose of this study, two surveys were conducted. The first questionnaire was sent to a sample of Maltese youths. The other questionnaire was sent to all Maltese journalists working with the three main television stations in Malta. Furthermore the Heads of news of Super ONE News and Net News were also interviewed. Detailed analysis of results achieved in the surveys are presented in Chapter 4 and in Chapter 5. A discussion about data and views obtained through the Personal Interviews with heads of news is found in Chapter 6. The final Chapter presents further discussion about the subject, together with suggestions for other studies in the same field.