THE 'TODAY' PAPER REVIEW INDEX - HOW IT WORKS AND A TEST CASE

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Steel yourselves please, it's time for some more statistics!!! Yes, they are not perfect - but if combined I think their imperfections should cancel each other out.
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PLEASE SEE MY LAST POST FOR THE REASONS BEHIND ALL THIS TOMFOOLERY!!!

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Here are the measures that go into each Today programme newspaper review index.

Each newspaper scores:

1 point for every mention in a paper review

3 bonus points for being the first newspaper mentioned in each paper review
2 bonus points for being the second newspaper mentioned in each paper review
1 bonus point for being the third newspaper mentioned in each paper review

1 Bonus point for being the first-discussed source for each story subsequent to the main one (usually marked by a change of presenter)

1 bonus point for any review of a paper's story that lasts longer than 30 seconds

-1 point every time the story is a frivolous one ( i.e. humorous or non-political)
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The daily index is simply the total of each newspaper scores at the end of each programme (which has 3 paper reviews on weekdays & 2 on Saturday).
Obviously the higher the overall score the more attention the paper has been given by the Today programme.*If particular newspapers receive high scores on a regular basis a pattern of bias in favour of those newspapers will have been strongly suggested, maybe even proven.
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This will show if any particular newspaper(s) receive preferential treatment - or not!




Here's the first case and an example (in full) of how it works:

Friday 18th September
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6.12am review
1. JUSTIN WEBB - Story: Barack Obama's scrapping of 'Star Wars' (significant story)
Times (13.17-13.45) Scores 1 point for mention, 3 bonus points for leading the review
Guardian (13.46-13.58) Scores 1 point for mention, 2 bonus points for being mentioned second
2. SARAH MONTAGUE - Story: Baroness Scotland's illegal immigrant home-help (significant story)
Daily Mail (14.10-14.43) Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for being mentioned third, 1 bonus point for leading a new story, 1 bonus point for its mention lasting longer than 30 seconds
(Telegraph mentioned in passing) Scores 1 point for mention
JUSTIN WEBB - Story: How you can tell if someone is telling you the truth by their handwriting (fluff)
Daily Mail (14.44-14.59) Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for leading a new story, but loses 1 point for the story being frivolous

Sub-total:

Times - 4 points
Guardian - 3 points
Daily Mail - 5 points
Telegraph - 1 point

6.37am review
1. SARAH MONTAGUE - Story: Baroness Scotland's illegal immigrant home-help (significant story)
Daily Mail (43.08-43.16) Scores 1 point for mention, 3 bonus points for leading the review
Telegraph (43.17-43.22) Scores 1 point for mention, 2 bonus points for being mentioned second
The Sun (43.23-43.27) Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for being mentioned third
JUSTIN WEBB - Story: Baroness Scotland's illegal immigrant home-help, continued
Mail (43.22-43.36) Scores 1 point for mention
The Sun (43.37-43.48) Scores 1 point for mention
2. SARAH MONTAGUE - Story: Barack Obama's scrapping of 'Star Wars' (significant story)
Guardian (43.57-44.05) Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for leading a new story
Financial Times (44.05-44.13 Scores 1 point for mention
The Times (44.13-44.17) Scores 1 point for mention
3. JUSTIN WEBB - Story: Kenyan drought (significant story)
Guardian (44.17-44.34) Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for leading a new story
4. SARAH MONTAGUE - Story: A boy who's having a sex change (fluff)
The Sun (44.34-44.07 Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for leading a new story, 1 point for its mention lasting longer than 30 seconds, but loses 1 point for the story being frivolous
5. JUSTIN WEBB - Story: A road where learner-drivers like to learn to drive (fluff)
Daily Express (45.14-45.31) Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for leading a new story, but loses 1 point for the story being frivolous
The Sun (45.33-45.37) Scores 1 point for mention, but loses 1 point for the story being frivolous

Sub-total

Daily Mail - 5
Telegraph - 3
The Sun - 5
Guardian - 4
Financial Times - 1
The Times -1
Daily Express - 1


7.37am review
1. SARAH MONTAGUE - Story: Barack Obama's scrapping of 'Star Wars' (significant story)
Independent (1.42.50-1.42.53) Scores 1 point for mention, 3 bonus points for leading review
Daily Mirror (1.42.53-1.42.57) Scores 1 point for mention, 2 bonus points for being mentioned second
Guardian (1.42.57-1.43.03) Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for being mentioned third
Telegraph (1.43.03-1.43.07) Scores 1 point for mention
2. JUSTIN WEBB - Story: Nick Clegg's statement that the Lib Dems will replace Labour (significant story)
Telegraph (1.43.07-1.43.29) Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for leading a new story
3. SARAH MONTAGUE - Story: Interview with the Iraqi who threw a shoe at Bush (significant story)
Guardian (1.43.29-1.43.55) Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for leading a new story
4. JUSTIN WEBB - Story: River Thames back on Tube map (fluff)
Independent (1.43.55-1.44.15) Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for leading a new story, but loses 1 point for the story being frivolous
5. SARAH MONTAGUE - Story: winding up a clock v. health & safety (fluff)
Telegraph (1.44.21-1.44.29)Scores 1 point for mention, 1 bonus point for leading a new story, but loses 1 point for the story being frivolous
Daily Mail (1.44.30-1.44.38) Scores 1 point for mention, but loses 1 point for the story being frivolous
The Sun (1.44.38-1.44.45) Scores 1 point for mention, but loses 1 point for the story being frivolous

Sub-Total

Independent - 5
Daily Mirror - 3
Guardian - 4
Telegraph - 4
Daily Mail - 0
The Sun - 0


Daily Index Totals -

Telegraph - 8
Guardian - 11
Independent - 5
The Times - 5
The Financial Times - 1
Daily Mail - 10
Daily Express - 1
The Sun - 5
Daily Mirror - 3

So there you go! A narrow victory over the Daily Mail for the Guardian. I duly crown the Guardian as the first winner of the Today Newspaper Review Index.