Forty-eight Michigan newspapers were surveyed by telephone to determine their criteria in selecting online database services, type of personnel using them, training procedures, budgets, and perceptions of the impact of these services on the speed of writing stories and quality of reporting. Data collection involved two phases: (1) researchers surveyed Michigan daily newspapers about their use of electronic databases and microcomputers; and (2) examining U.S. and Canadian dailies that are online contributors to VU/TEXT, DATATIMES or NEXIS. Results show that 96% do not subscribe to any online services, with a majority indicating that the services were too expensive, 50% saying they had no need for them, and 15% reporting lack of the expertise to use the services. More than half viewed online search skills as not very important. The two papers that did subscribe were the "Detroit Free Press" and the "Detroit News." The "Free Press" also maintains its own computerized "morgue," or archive, which is integrated with ongoing stories and is provided to the VU/TEXT database. Only three other Michigan newspapers operate micro-computer based "morgues." The survey also revealed that while 25% of Michigan newspapers have no personal computers of any kind, the rest have most or all of the equipment needed to access online databases should they choose to. Michigan newspapers' apparent lack of interest in online databases contrasts starkly with the growing national interest, reflected in the range of national newspapers contributing to online databases. (Appended tables compare penetration of IBM PC's, MacIntoshes and laptop computers, correlate computer use with newspaper characteristics, and analyze database contributors by city size and circulation.) (JG)