Lesernähe: Modell und Instrument für regionale Tageszeitungen

"Closeness to the reader" is formulated as a standalone, integrative model which is based on a local/spatial, everyday and interactive proximity. The model will be implemented in quantitative and qualitative content analytical stages. Using this reader closeness category, this study demonstrates how newspapers have developed since 1990. The circulation areas are represented as area slides which are organised thematically into regions. The area slides are used as frameworks for interpretation along with the structural development and the particular individual requirements of the selected newspapers. The boundaries of spatial proximity and coverage become clear, local priorities can be detected, and arbitrary changes in content emerge. The results reveal on which of the three columns the newspapers lie in terms of closeness to the reader as well as which newspapers neglect and distance themselves from their potential readers.