Radio Newsroom Investment

The 2004 RTNDA/Ball State survey indicates that more than half of the radio news directors surveyed anticipated a decrease in the amount of news they would be producing. Some 40% indicated there would be an increase.

In that respect, consolidation may be a negative factor. According to the survey there “…were no significant differences [in the amount of news] based on commercial/noncommercial, staff size, market size or region. Group-owned stations were less likely to have increased the amount of news last year and more likely to have cut it back.”1

According to the RTNDA/Ball State survey data, the average radio station in America doing news produced fewer than 40 minutes of radio news locally each day in 2004. Much of that, 18.1 minutes, occurred during the morning drive time, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.2

Consolidation has made it almost impossible to track long-term trends in areas like the amount of locally produced news. While anecdotal data, like the survey information from RTNDA/Ball State would appear to indicate that locally produced news is in decline, statistical data cannot be used to accurately reflect a trend.

Measured by market size, the amount of locally produced news jumps somewhat erratically. Over all, the major markets produce more than double the national average —93.5 minutes a day — and large markets are also above average at 52.1 minutes. Medium markets produce the least amount, less than half an hour (23.2 minutes) while small markets produce some 35.2 minutes.3

Especially among the major markets, though, it is important to remember that the newsroom that is “locally producing” news is probably producing news for multiple stations. That makes any kind of clear trendline regarding either the increase or decline of radio news production problematic.