Town Image Constructed by the Media

Focusing on Spatial Distribution of Store Information

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify relations between town image constructed by the media and real towns. This study focused on spatial distribution of information on stores, especially eating and drinking establishments, and measured distinction between town image in terms of stores on the magazines or on the Internet and real towns. The coefficient of specialization was used to show to what extent each medium pays attention to each genre of stores and to each region. First, information magazines were analyzed which many people use for searching store information. Second, a store information website on the Internet was analyzed which is easy to access and on which impression of visitors to the stores can be posted. The analysis showed that each medium has its "favorite" genres of stores and districts, and that the town image on the media is different from real towns.