LEGISLATORS OR INTERPRETERS - ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOURNALISTSAND THEIR READERS

This article examines the relationship between journalists and readers in the Netherlands. Following a brief discussion about recent trends in the media landscape in this country, a study of the producers and c onsumers of four regional newspapers is introduced. The study used qua litative methodology involving more than 500 participants/respondents. The overall finding was that regional newspapers had a major public i mage problem. Journalists were perceived not to be visible in the regi on for which they wrote. Readers felt that the newspapers concerned we re not sufficiently focused on providing good regional coverage. The n ewspapers attempted to be 'all things to all people', a feature reject ed outright by the readers. The readers' verdict appears to be related to the pecking order within the profession of journalism which accred its a low status to regional journalism.