Cities and their news media images

This paper discusses assorted aspects of the images of cities in the news media. Images affect perceptions and various spatial decisions made by three groups: the general public, decision makers on the national level and the place's inhabitants. Thus, media portrayal has implications for the position of cities in the growing international and national competition for various resources such as tourism, investments and businesses. The first part of the paper discusses three general aspects of the subject: how to measure a city's news media image, types of images, and level of research in the field. In the second part, which is based upon a literature review, an integrated model is suggested that illustrates the four factors that determine the amount and nature of cities' coverage patterns in the national news media. These factors are: (1) the city's characteristics: population size, geographical location, crime rate and number of national institutions; (2) editorial policy towards the coverage of the city (allocation of reporters, definition of 'news' about the city and sources used, definition of target audience) and the personal background of the newspeople; (3) social - political environment in which the media operate (central values of society, political culture, etc.); and (4) the public relations efforts made by the city. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.