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 Local owners often aren’t independent Publishers reward friends, punish enemies Corporate money can help during bad times

The real issue What matters is journalism’s standing with ownership (Murrow, Paley and Stanton at CBS in 1946)

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

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

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

Monopoly effects Dozens of cable channels, but handful of owners

Monopoly effects Dozens of cable channels, but handful of owners Company officials sit on each others’ boards

Monopoly effects Dozens of cable channels, but handful of owners Company officials sit on each others’ boards Journalism becomes a tiny part of what the corporation does

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Eastern Massachusetts First generation –More than 100 individually owned papers

Eastern Massachusetts First generation Second generation –A half-dozen or so regional groups

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

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

Reasons for concern Coverage in the corporation’s interest –GE and nuclear power plants –Dennis Kucinich and the debates –Disney’s theme-park workers

Reasons for concern Coverage in the corporation’s interest But … –Clear Channel and Minot was an urban legend

Reasons for concern Coverage in the corporation’s interest But … –Clear Channel and Minot was an urban legend –Ben Compaine shows there is no monopoly

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

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

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

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

Encouraging diversity Regulate radio and television until the Internet takes over

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

Encouraging diversity Regulate radio and television until the Internet takes over Preserve net neutrality Encourage an ownership culture in which news comes first