Abstract
The balance between ownership and social responsibility has created extensive debate about the controls and regulations placed on news outlets. Local television news is owned by fewer and fewer companies. Sinclair Broadcast Group is one of the largest media companies in the United States. As of March of 2020, Sinclair operates 191 TV stations, 607 channels, operating in 89 markets. The company continues their technological assertiveness with three technology groups within their company. Sinclair has become a New Media Baron, modeled after William Randolph Hearst and Rupert Murdoch. This study looks at the steady growth of the Sinclair empire and how the ownership is influencing news coverage in the United States. Using interpretive research and quantitative data, this study considers the impact on local newsrooms and their workers. Actor Network Theory is applied to the corporate ownerships influence on the evolution of interactions within networks.
Presenters
Dean CummingsAssistant Professor, Communication Arts, Georgia Southern University, Georgia, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Actor Network Theory, Ageism, Agenda Setting
