https://doi.org/10.1177/0739532918814545
Newspaper Research Journal
1–21
© 2019 NOND of AEJMC
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DOI: 10.1177/0739532918814545
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Original Manuscript
Online niches of
English-language
newspapers in
Bangladesh
Analyzing news stories
and user engagement on
Facebook
By Mohammad Yousuf, Md Mahfuzul Haque, and
Md Khadimul Islam
Abstract
This study examines the online niches of English-language
newspapers in Bangladesh by analyzing stories and user
engagement on the Facebook pages of fve highest circulated
newspapers. Based on the theory of the niche, this study analyzed
data on 17,687 Facebook posts downloaded programmatically.
Results indicate that users read these newspapers for in-depth
news stories and features on diplomacy, national security, lifestyle,
science, technology, and international events. The study identifed
a gap between what these newspapers offer and what their users
want.
Keywords
social media, newspaper, user engagement, theory of the niche, big data
Yousuf is a lecturer in the Gaylord College of Journalism and
Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma. Haque and
Islam are graduate students in the Meek School of Journalism and
New Media at the University of Mississippi. Yousuf is the corresponding
author: yousuf@ou.edu.
814545NRJ XX X 10.1177/0739532918814545Yousuf, Haque, and IslamYousuf, Haque, and Islam
research-article 2019