Countering the generally accepted proposition that television news must cater to the lowest common denominator, a study by Project for Excellence in Journalism has concluded that local TV newscasts that rated highest in quality reporting also ranked highest in ratings. The journalists' group, which is affiliated with the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (publisher of the Columbia Journalism Review), also determined that television stations are cutting back on many newscast elements that attract viewers "including enterprise, localism, breadth, innovation, and sourcing." The television industry, it said, "is headed toward making a fateful mistake."

Source: Studio Briefing