Compare & Contrast News Sites

The three news sites that I chose to compare the differences between "news judgment" and style are CNN.com, KING 5 News, and Fox News. I looked at them all on Monday, Sept. 1st at about 5 p.m.

The type of stories that appear in the most prominent place for CNN are stories about the most newsworthy or shocking information that is going on in the United States. For example, the second story listed on the web page is about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter who is five-months pregnant. This story is newsworthy because it has to do with someone with a position of great distinction that everyone in the US knows. CNN's main audience are people who live in the United States and who are primarily Democratic. I don't think that CNN adheres to the Murrow standard of being fair and balanced.

For King 5 News, the most important stories that happen in Washington state are typically higher on the web page than other stories. For example, the second story on the web page is about Bellevue, WA teachers who voted to strike. This is newsworthy for this publication because the people who look at this site are from this area so it is extremely relevant to everyone in the Bellevue School District. However, when there is an important incident going on in the United States, such as Hurricane Gustav and articles that have to do with the presidential election, it will typically replace the local news stories. King 5's primary audience are mainly people who live in Washington or in the Pacific Northwest who like to see articles involving both local and national news. I think that King 5 does adhere to the Murrow standard of being fair and balanced.

For Fox News, the most important or shocking stories that happen nation wide are in the most prominent position on the web page. The first two articles on foxnews.com are the same as CNN's, but from then on they differ in order. Fox News' main audience are people who primarily live in the United States and only want to know the most important issues going on nation wide. I do not think that Fox News adheresto the Murrow standard of being fair and balanced.

Personally, since I am from Seattle, Washington, I would most likely read King 5 News because I like to know what is going on around the state and the important stories that are happening in the United States.