Media outlets and their moguls: why concentrated individual or family ownership is bad for editorial independence

Hanretty, Chris (2014) Media outlets and their moguls: why concentrated individual or family ownership is bad for editorial independence. European Journal of Communication, 29 (3). pp. 335-350. ISSN 0267-3231

Preview

PDF (Media outlets and their moguls: why concentrated individual or family ownership is bad for editorial independence [preprint]) - Draft Version Download (284kB) | Preview

Abstract

This article investigates the levels of owner influence in 211 different print and broadcast outlets in 32 different European media markets. Drawing on the literature from industrial organisation, it sets out reasons why we should expect greater levels of influence where ownership of individual outlets is concentrated; where it is concentrated in the hands of individuals or families; and where ownership groups own multiple outlets in the same media market. Conversely, we should expect lower levels of influence where ownership is dispersed between transnational companies. The articles uses original data on the ownership structures of these outlets, and combines it with reliable expert judgments as to the level of owner influence in each of the outlets. These hypotheses are tested and confirmed in a multilevel regression model of owner influence. The findings are relevant for policy on ownership limits in the media, and for the debate over transnational versus local control of media.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Political, Social and International Studies (former - to 2014)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Media@uea (former - to 2017) Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Political, Social and International Studies Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Policy & Politics
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2014 15:24
Last Modified:	21 Jul 2023 09:36
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/48248
DOI:	10.1177/0267323114523150

Downloads

Actions (login required)

View Item