This dissertation is intended to provide evidence of what the U.S. democracy is losing as a result of the decline in the number of daily newspapers. The research is framed in the context of the marketplace of ideas, which media and political analysts assert is necessary to a functioning democracy. Editorials are the unit of analysis because they provide opinions and agenda-setting, which are elements of a political process involving the give and take of a marketplace of ideas. The research employs analysis through primary and secondary historical sources; content analysis of modern-day (2001--2004) competing newspaper editorials according to their geographical (local, regional, national and international topics) and subject (politics/government, education/classic arts; economic concerns; war and defense; crime; etc.) focus; and a survey of editorial page editors of the modern-day newspapers analyzed. The analysis considers differences in editorial conclusions based on political ideological disagreement or on framing variances. Three types of competitive markets are considered: direct competition involving newspapers in one community with separate ownership and business functions, joint operating agreement competition involving newspapers with separate ownership and editorial operations but combined business functions; and metroplex competition involving newspapers of separate ownership and business functions headquartered in neighboring communities and competing for advertisers and readers in a greater metropolitan market. The findings reveal a robust competitive marketplace of ideas that includes ideological and framing differences and a remarkable diversity of agendas, particularly in the local arena. However, few differences are found in editorial concentration on subject matter, such as politics/government, crime, education, economic activity, moral problems and other categories of editorial topics. The importance of the findings goes beyond the existence of differences of opinion, such as varying political ideologies, that would be expected in editorials of competing newspapers. It reveals the existence of an ideas marketplace, in a media community of increasing conglomeration and convergence, that promotes a variety of opinions and agendas that would not exist in a monopoly newspaper market. This newspaper marketplace offers the community attention to vital local issues and topics that are not addressed by other media outlets including cable, broadcast and the Internet.
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