Media Concentration in the Age of the Internet

Media concentration

The Internet helps level theplaying field, but worries remain

Ben H. Bagdikian

• Legendary press analyst was The Washington Post’s first ombudsman

Ben H. Bagdikian

• Legendary press analyst was The Washington Post’s first ombudsman

• Began writing “The Media Monopoly”in the early 1980s

Ben H. Bagdikian

• Legendary press analyst was The Washington Post’s first ombudsman

• Began writing “The Media Monopoly”in the early 1980s

• Warned that five big corporations controlled nearly all U.S. media

The oligarchs’ agenda

• ABC killed a story on pedophiles and lax security at theme parks

The oligarchs’ agenda

• ABC killed a story on pedophiles and lax security at theme parks

• NBC was reluctant to take on nuclear power when GE was the owner

The oligarchs’ agenda

• ABC killed a story on pedophiles and lax security at theme parks

• NBC was reluctant to take on nuclear power when GE was the owner

• Networks were slow to question Iraq war while seeking favors from FCC

How communities are hurt

• Bagdikian tells the story of Clear Channel after accident in Minot, N.D.

How communities are hurt

• Bagdikian tells the story of Clear Channel after accident in Minot, N.D.

• Two generations ago A.J. Liebling warned of one-newspaper cities

How communities are hurt

• Bagdikian tells the story of Clear Channel after accident in Minot, N.D.

• Two generations ago A.J. Liebling warned of one-newspaper cities

• Chains like GateHouse Media cut local coverage to pay debt

But a funny thinghappened on the wayto the Apocalypse …

Independents’ day

Independents’ day

• Huffington Post• Talking Points Memo• Drudge Report• Daily Caller• WikiLeaks• ProPublica• Gawker Media• Etc., etc., etc.

Challenge to local monopolies

• Cheap technology means that barriers to entry are close to zero

Challenge to local monopolies

• Cheap technology means that barriers to entry are close to zero

• Some corporate chains have embraced digital to reinvent themselves

Challenge to local monopolies

• Cheap technology means that barriers to entry are close to zero

• Some corporate chains have embraced digital to reinvent themselves

• Patch is struggling,but it represents new corporate thinking

The new media moguls

• Jeff Bezos buysThe Washington Post, takes it independent

The new media moguls

• Jeff Bezos buysThe Washington Post, takes it independent

• John Henry purchasesThe Boston Globe from the New York Times Co.

The new media moguls

• Jeff Bezos buysThe Washington Post, takes it independent

• John Henry purchasesThe Boston Globe from the New York Times Co.

• Aaron Kushner tries a print-centric approach with the O.C. Register

The new entrepreneurs

• Glenn Greenwald et al. team up with Pierre Omidyar of eBay fame

The new entrepreneurs

• Glenn Greenwald et al. team up with Pierre Omidyar of eBay fame

• Kara Swisher takes her talents from the WSJ to an NBC-affilated site

The new entrepreneurs

• Glenn Greenwald et al. team up with Pierre Omidyar of eBay fame

• Kara Swisher takes her talents from the WSJ to an NBC-affilated site

• Wonkblog founder Ezra Klein will start a new venture at Vox Media

What could go wrong?

What could go wrong?

• The 21st century’s Big 5 have a different agenda from Ben Bagdikian’s 5– Apple– Google– Facebook– Amazon– Microsoft

What could go wrong?

• The 21st century’s Big 5 have a different agenda from Ben Bagdikian’s 5

• Today’s Big 5 would rather partner with than fight the telecoms

What could go wrong?

• The 21st century’s Big 5 have a different agenda from Ben Bagdikian’s 5

• Today’s Big 5 would rather partner with than fight the telecoms

• End of net neutrality could bring current openness to a halt