The effect of changes in corporate ownership on three metropolitan daily newspapers' editorials, 1961-1992

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect of changes in corporate ownership at three large metropolitan daily newspapers as reflected in the content of lead Sunday editorials at each newspaper. The study sought to determine whether changes in type of ownership would increase the number of neutral editorials in the post-incorporation era for the newspapers.

The results suggest incorporation has an influence on the editorial content of the newspapers. Two of the three newspapers showed significant increases in the percentage of neutral editorials after changes in ownership. In addition, editorial domains were defined as either political, economic, or social. When controlling for these domains, logistic regression shows each newspaper altered its use of neutral editorials in a significant manner. The Atlanta Journal- Constitution increased the percentage of neutral editorials across each of the dimensions, the New York Times increased its use of neutral editorials across the economic and political dimensions while decreasing the percentage of neutral social editorials, and the Washington Post increased its use of neutral editorials across each of the three dimensions.