It is the most significant current dilemma over which editors fret and readers complain: Is The Miami Herald's coverage of the current economic crisis undermining consumer confidence, and thereby making the recession worse? Or is the reporting so positive that it misleads readers as they make decisions on what to do with their savings, their jobs and their lives?

Herald editors say they are accused by readers of both. The loudest are local business people, who see The Herald's coverage as self-defeating for the community.

Politics complicates matters. Republican leaders and analysts push a negative story line about what they say will be the effect of the Obama administration's economic measures, while Democrats do the reverse. Independent economists are all over the lot.

It is true that the newspaper's coverage can influence events, though readers may not fully appreciate how.

First, The Herald is only one part of a dynamic media mix in South Florida.

Second, contrary to popular opinion, The Herald does not have the power to dictate what people think about an issue, even if it wanted to. Studies repeatedly have shown that the media's power lies in setting the agenda of what people talk about, and what themes they use to frame that discussion. People decide for themselves what position they actually take on any given issue, based on many influences in their lives.

A related effect that the media can have is cultivating a sense of fear or well-being.

Studies, for example, show that heavy viewers of local television news, which strongly features crime coverage, fear that they will be a crime victim more than non-viewers do and more than crime statistics justify.

I decided to review Herald front pages for four weeks, from March 25 to April 20, to see just what positive or negative economic messages the newspaper might be sending. I picked front pages because they have the most impact, though inside pages obviously carried a lot of economic stories, too, particularly those with complicated details and analysis.

So you know what lens I use in judging, my assessment of the economy is: We are in a deep recession and unemployment likely will get worse. We are unlikely to reach depression levels. Our financial system is still in a genuine crisis, but there are hopeful signs it may have touched bottom.

BY THE HEADLINES

What I found on Page One was an emphasis on local economic stories with a plucky bent of how people were surviving or coping. Typical headlines were: ''Children share messages of hope'' (about laid-off Macy's workers); ''More for less'' (on being thrifty); ''Travel bargains may save summer vacation''; ''Bumps ahead -- but rest of recession could be over''; ''Sweet stimulus'' (on the chocolate industry); and ``Secrets to frugal families.''

While not exactly positive, the stories were hopeful. One headline on home prices -- ''For buyers, rock bottom still to come'' -- took a decidedly upbeat view. It could have focused on the sellers who are on the losing side of the transaction.

A negative headline -- ''Recession has even rappers singing the blues'' -- at least added some poetry to the page.

There was not much front-page coverage of the administration's stimulus and other measures. I would have liked to have seen more, but it could be that few new measures were announced during the four weeks I studied.

THE ANALYTICAL

One article -- ''Obama forces GM CEO to quit'' -- was politically and ideologically even-handed. It noted: ''The White House's insistence that Wagoner step down represents an extraordinary intervention of the federal government into the management of a private company.'' But added: 'It also reflects that the president and his auto task force have taken a skeptical view of the companies' plans to restructure, which were submitted last month.''

April 15, income-tax filing day, generated the usual package, this year on state and federal efforts to reduce taxes and on the highly charged ''tea parties,'' which were as much anti-Obama as anti-tax. The stories remained straightforward.

The most analytical article -- ''Worst of recession could be over'' -- responsibly pulled in conflicting evidence. But while it cited economists and officials saying that unemployment may hit 10 percent by the end of the year, the economists said that the recession may end by then, too. The economy normally picks up before hiring does. Still, to foresee any end is indeed positive.

CORRECTION:

In my last column, I mixed up the names of the law firm representing the Miccosukee Tribe. The firm is Lewis Tein. The partners are Guy Lewis and Michael Tein. Due to a typo, I also left out a key word in the last line that changed the meaning of the line. I don't think that the tribe needs to follow the standard American judicial model to have a fair system of justice.

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@