Content Analysis

The crisis in Syria is the first mega-story to break since Al Jazeera America debuted on August 20. A new report on coverage of the evolving Syria story examines how the newest cable channel stacked up with such competitors as CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and BBC America.

There is good and bad news in a University of Georgia report on the job market for 2012 communication and journalism graduates. As the economy slowly recovers, employment and salaries ticked up modestly. But they make considerably less money than graduates of others programs and face significantly reduced workplace benefits.

The stunning sale of The Washington Post to Amazon.com billionaire Jeff Bezos says something important about the economics of the Post itself, the continuing struggles of the newspaper industry and the market value of some of America’s great metro dailies. A Pew Research Center report provides the numbers that help put the $250 million deal into context.

While the economics of local television are stronger than those of the newspaper industry, a new Pew Research Center report analyzes why some trends in local television news may be worrisome.

News stories focused on support for same-sex marriage outnumbered those opposing it by roughly 5-to-1 in the two months marked by Supreme Court deliberations on the issue, according to the latest study in Pew Research's LGBT in Changing Times series. Did statements of support vary by media sector? Did reactions on Twitter differ from the news media? How was the topic covered in LGBT outlets? The new study offers answers.

As the economics of commercial journalism have been upended and newsrooms have shrunk, a variety of funders have sponsored nonprofit news operations to fill perceived information gaps. A report finds that while they voice optimism about the future, many organizations worry that they don’t have sufficient business-side resources.

After a few very difficult years, Newsweek magazine, which sold for $1 three years ago, may be up for sale again. A Pew Research Center analysis of news magazine economics in the past half dozen years finds that in a difficult period for newsweeklies in general, the turmoil and decline at Newsweek has been particularly noteworthy.

The Twitter debate about gun control has taken many twists and turns since the Newtown killings, according to a new Pew Research Report that looks at the mainstream coverage and social media conversation on that issue. Which terms did the media most often invoke when discussing gun control? And how big a factor was President Obama in driving the narrative about it?

At a time of economic turmoil in the newspaper business, a new Pew Research Center report identifies four dailies that have built successful new revenue streams and answers four key questions. What are these winning business innovations? What challenges did the papers overcome in implementing them? What are the tangible signs of success? And what lessons can be shared with the industry?