Canadian Newspaper Ownership In An Era Of Convergence

by Soderlund, Walter C.; Hilderbrandt, Kai; Hildebrandt, Kai

• ISBN13: 9780888644398
• ISBN10: 0888644396
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-01
• Publisher: Univ of Alberta Pr

Summary

Canadian Newspaper Ownership in the Era of Convergence investigates the current state of Canada’s newspaper industry in light of recent developments—increasing concentration of ownership, multi-media convergence, and controversy over the actions of proprietors. Case studies examine how Conrad Black’s acquisition of newspapers in the mid-1990s, bringing his total ownership to over half of the country’s dailies, followed by the subsequent purchase of the most important of these by CanWest Global, has actually influenced the content of newspapers. Canadian Newspaper Ownership revisits social responsibility” in the context of the changed media landscape as a means of prescribing how newspaper owners and employees might conduct themselves in the public interest.

Author Biography

Kai Hildebrandt is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Windsor. Walter C. Soderlund is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science at the University of Windsor.

Table of Contents

List of Tables	ix
Contributors	xi
Preface	xiii
Introduction The Relationship between the Press and Democratic Politics	1	(10)
Walter C. Soderlund
Kai Hildebrandt
Failed Attempts at Regulation of Newspaper Ownership
The Davey Committee and the Kent Royal Commission	11	(20)
Walter C. Soderlund
Walter I. Romanow
PART ONE Chain Ownership: Conrad Black and Hollinger
Chain Ownership
Review and Analysis of Empirical Studies	31	(14)
Walter C. Soderlund
Kai Hildebrandt
The Impact of Conrad Black's Ownership on Thomson, Armadale, and Southam Newspapers	45	(30)
Kai Hildebrandt
Walter C. Soderlund
An Assessment of Conrad Black's Ownership	75	(14)
Walter C. Soderlund
Kai Hildebrandt
PART TWO Convergence: The Aspers and CanWest Global
Media Convergence and CanWest Global	89	(36)
Kai Hildebrandt
Walter C. Soderlund
Walter I. Romanow
CanWest Global's National Editorial Policy
Round One	109	(16)
Walter C. Soderlund
Ronald H. Wagenberg
Walter I. Romanow
The Firing of Russell Mills, Round Two of National Editorials, and the CanWest News Service Initiative	125	(26)
Walter C. Soderlund
Walter I. Romanow
Conclusion Ownership Rights Vs. Social Responsibility
Defining an Appropriate Role for Newspaper Owners	137	(14)
Walter C. Soderlund
Ronald H. Wagenberg
Kai Hildebrandt
Walter I. Romanow
Notes	151	(16)
Reference List	167	(16)
Name Index	183	(4)
Subject Index	187