News Corporation

Definition

A news corporation is a company that owns and operates various media outlets, including newspapers, television stations, and digital platforms. These corporations play a significant role in shaping public discourse and influencing newsworthiness by determining which stories are prioritized and how they are presented to the audience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. News corporations often have significant financial resources, allowing them to invest in high-quality journalism and extensive news coverage.
2. They can influence public opinion by selecting specific stories that align with their interests or corporate values.
3. The consolidation of media ownership into a few large news corporations can lead to reduced diversity in news coverage and viewpoints.
4. News corporations face pressure to generate profits, which can impact their editorial decisions and prioritization of sensational or entertainment-focused content.
5. The rise of digital media has transformed news corporations, requiring them to adapt their business models and content strategies to engage online audiences.

Review Questions

• How do news corporations influence the factors that determine newsworthiness in their reporting?
  • News corporations influence newsworthiness through their editorial choices about which stories to cover and how to frame them. Their financial resources enable them to invest in certain areas of journalism, potentially skewing coverage toward stories that generate higher viewer engagement or advertising revenue. This means they can elevate specific issues while downplaying others based on corporate interests or audience preferences.
• Discuss the ethical considerations that news corporations must navigate when deciding what news is worthy of coverage.
  • News corporations must balance commercial interests with journalistic ethics when determining which stories to prioritize. Ethical considerations include truthfulness, objectivity, and fairness in reporting. This tension often arises when sensational stories may attract more viewership but compromise journalistic integrity, leading to discussions on the responsibility of these corporations to provide comprehensive and unbiased news coverage.
• Evaluate the impact of media conglomerates on the diversity of viewpoints presented in news reporting today.
  • Media conglomerates significantly impact the diversity of viewpoints in news reporting by consolidating ownership of various media outlets. This concentration can limit the range of perspectives available to the public as fewer entities control the narrative surrounding major issues. As a result, there is a risk of creating echo chambers where only certain viewpoints are amplified, making it crucial for audiences to seek out diverse sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of current events.

Related terms

Media Conglomerate: A large corporation that owns multiple media businesses across various platforms, including film, television, radio, and print.

Journalistic Ethics: The principles guiding the professional conduct of journalists, which dictate how news should be gathered, reported, and presented.

Gatekeeping: The process by which media organizations decide which news stories are covered and how they are framed for the audience.