How Local Television Stations Used the Web to Report the Second Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Abstract

This study examined the Web sites of 86 network-affiliated local television stations in the United States to determine how they reported on the second anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Specifically, this study focused on news and information, visuals, multimedia and interactive features related to the anniversary of the incidents. The results indicated that less than two-thirds of the stations' Web sites featured 9/11-related stories of state or local origin, and less than a quarter of the sites offered state or local photos. A key finding was the predominance of stories and photos with a commemorative theme, which served as a means of connecting communities and visitors to the Web sites through memorialization and remembrance.