Challenging the local news mantra that "if it bleeds, it leads," a new study examining 34,000 news stories broadcast by 154 stations in 50 markets has concluded that content and presentation is far more important in corralling an audience than sensationalistic tabloid fare. In the study, "The Local News Story: Is Quality a Choice?" political science professors Todd L. Belt and Marion Just demonstrate that newscasts that posted high scores on quality garnered higher ratings than those that focused on criminal acts and celebrity items. The study also found that it was important to combine quality content with a quality presentation. "How you tell the stories is important," Belts said.