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Media concentration

Media concentration. A 21st-century conundrum: Fewer owners, more voices. The trouble with localism. Local owners often aren’t independent. The trouble with localism. Local owners often aren’t independent Publishers reward friends, punish enemies. The trouble with localism.

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Media concentration

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  1. Media concentration A 21st-century conundrum:Fewer owners, more voices

  2. The trouble with localism • Local owners often aren’t independent

  3. The trouble with localism • Local owners often aren’t independent • Publishers reward friends, punish enemies

  4. The trouble with localism • Local owners often aren’t independent • Publishers reward friends, punish enemies • Corporate money can help duringbad times

  5. The real issue • What matters is journalism’s standing with ownership (Murrow, Paleyand Stanton atCBS in 1946)

  6. Ben Bagdikian • Survivor of the Armenian holocaust • First ombudsman of the Washington Post • Played a key role in publishing the Pentagon Papers

  7. “The Media Monopoly” • In 1983, Bagdikian worried that 50 corporations controlled much of our media

  8. “The Media Monopoly” • In 1983, Bagdikian worried that 50 corporations controlled much of our media • Today, the number of corporations has shrunk to five

  9. Monopoly effects • Dozens of cable channels, but handful of owners

  10. Monopoly effects • Dozens of cable channels, but handful of owners • Company officialssit on eachothers’ boards

  11. Monopoly effects • Dozens of cable channels, but handful of owners • Company officialssit on eachothers’ boards • Journalism becomes a tiny part of what the corporation does

  12. Kovach and Rosenstiel • “Journalism’s first duty is to citizens”

  13. Kovach and Rosenstiel • “Journalism’s first duty is to citizens” • But what do you do when ownership believes the first duty of the news division is to maximize profits?

  14. Time Warner • 2007 revenues: $46.4 billion • CNN, AOL, HBO, Time, Sports Illustrated, People, Warner Bros.,books and the Atlanta Braves

  15. Walt Disney Corporation • 2007 revenues: $35.5 billion • ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel, television and radio stations, movie studios, books, music, magazines and theme parks

  16. News Corporation • 2007 revenues: $28.6 billion • Fox network, TV stations, satellite, movie studios, MySpace, Fox News, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Weekly Standard

  17. Viacom/CBS • 2007 revenues: $25.7 billion • CBS network, television and radio stations, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, BET, Nick, books, music and movie studios

  18. Bertelsmann • 2007 revenues:$19 billion • Columbia Records, Random House books, television stations, radio stations and magazines throughout Europe

  19. General Electric Company • 2007 revenues: $173 billion • NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, television stations, movie studios, Telemundo • Weapons, aircraft, nuclear power plants

  20. New York Times Company • Boston Globe, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Boston.com, Boston Red Sox(17 percent), New England Sports Network (14 percent), Metro Boston (49 percent)

  21. Eastern Massachusetts • First generation • More than 100 individually owned papers

  22. Eastern Massachusetts • First generation • Second generation • A half-dozen or so regional groups

  23. Eastern Massachusetts • First generation • Second generation • Third generation • One local owner for all papers • Fidelity Capital • Boston Herald

  24. Eastern Massachusetts • First generation • Second generation • Third generation • Fourth generation • One national owner for all papers • GateHouse Media owns papers across the United States

  25. Reasons for concern • Coverage in the corporation’s interest • GE and nuclear power plants • Dennis Kucinichand the debates • Disney’s theme-park workers

  26. Reasons for concern • Coverage in the corporation’s interest • But … • Clear Channeland Minot wasan urban legend

  27. Reasons for concern • Coverage in the corporation’s interest • But … • Clear Channeland Minot wasan urban legend • Ben Compaine shows thereis no monopoly

  28. Countervailing trends • A.J. Liebling worried about local monopolies, which no longer exist

  29. Countervailing trends • A.J. Liebling worried about local monopolies, which no longer exist • Internet has created vast array of choices

  30. Countervailing trends • A.J. Liebling worried about local monopolies, which no longer exist • Internet has created vast array of choices • Nonprofit and local ownership

  31. Countervailing trends • A.J. Liebling worried about local monopolies, which no longer exist • Internet has created vast array of choices • Nonprofit and local ownership • Bloggers talk back to the media

  32. Encouraging diversity • Regulate radio and television until the Internet takes over

  33. Encouraging diversity • Regulate radio and television until the Internet takes over • Preserve net neutrality

  34. Encouraging diversity • Regulate radio and television until the Internet takes over • Preserve net neutrality • Encourage an ownership culturein which news comes first

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