Abstract
In the mid-1950s newspapers were the primary source of news for most Americans. By the 1970s television had taken over as the primary source of news. Through a thematic analysis of Nieman Reports and Editor & Publishers from 1954 to 1974, this study examines how newspaper industry representatives characterized television news and how they planned to remain relevant during a time of media transition. This study provides some of the historical context necessary to better understand the arguments and assumptions made by the newspaper industry today as they face the competition posed by Internet-enabled communications technologies.