*The Integrated Newsroom - Straits Times Content Analysis*

4.2.4 A comparison of The Straits Times and The Straits Times Interactive - A content analytical approach

This section presents the results and observations of a content analysis comparing The Straits Times with its online counterpart, The Straits Times Interactive. Similar to the content analysis of The Age, the primary objective of this exercise was to compare the number of stories and type of content transferred from print to the Web. In addition, the organisation, look and feel of the online newspaper was examined. Twelve consecutive print and online editions from 19 to 30 July 1999 were examined in this study. Unfortunately the online edition for 31st July was missing because it was the second last day the author was in Singapore, and in haste was unable to check if a soft copy of the edition was made. The online editions are archived online for a week, before they are removed, and attempts to secure a copy failed. However, it is felt that the analysis was not duly affected.

A data collection sheet was formulated to record data in an efficient and organised fashion. Due to resource and time limitations, the analysis was restricted to the World news section. International news was selected as the most appropriate type of coverage in order to compare the content transferred from print to online versions of both newspapers.

The Straits Times Interactive online editions were saved onto zip disks daily during the research study period in Singapore. The author requested permission and a staff provided him with a 'soft' copy of the foreign news section. During analysis, the data were checked thrice to minimise any human error.

Variables including the date the story was printed, byline and location, headline changes between print and online if any, and the amount of information transferred (photographs, images, background information, additional/related links and section categorisation) were examined similarly to The Age Online content analysis. Appendix F summarises the results of the study, and Graph 2 charts the number of print stories transferred online.