News ownership is a convoluted sphere where most outlets are attached to a larger corporation. Tracking ownership is important because media has the power to shape public opinion and influence the way people think and act. Traditional mass media is widely criticised for presenting a limited range of viewpoints where there should be a balance of perspectives and ideas (van Hoof et al. 2014). In the United States, six corporations’ control 90% of media outlets with conglomerates such as Disney, Comcast, and AT&T heading the bulk of U.S. mass media. Whilst access to hundreds of news companies provides an illusion of balance, journalist who work for each outlet answer to their owners and fundamentally seek to serve their agendas.
Zooming in on Australian media, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, accounts for 17.3M newspaper sales a week, making it Australia’s most influential newspaper publisher. His portfolio stretches over 100 digital and physical mastheads including The Daily Telegraph, Sky News, Foxtel and news.com.au. His titles have been closely associated with centre-right ideologies and scrutinised for a lack of impartiality which effectively “debases discourse” and “misrepresents propaganda as news” (The Conversation 2022). During the 2022 federal election, Sky news reporters used words such as “fraud”, “spewing” and “sewer” on attacks towards independents, whilst Sky reporter Paul Murray encouraged the audience to “save the country from the mad left”. In print, a News Corp publication devoted the front page to promoting liberal candidate Zali Steggall.
As well as a double-page spread promoting Josh Frydenberg with the headline “Why you need to vote for me”.
To counteract this, I avoid clinging to a single media outlet owned by a larger corporation. My two main sources are @thedailyaus and Apple News. The Daily Aus (TDA) maintains full editorial independence, offering a succinct overview of different global matters.
“TDA is a social-first news service that offers young Australians a digestible and engaging way to access the news.”
The Daily Aus via thedailyaus.com.au
TDA states on their website that they are not owned, nor do they receive funding from a larger company. No investor has the power to dictate or sway editorial policy and they are committed to impartiality which cements them as a trusted and transparent publication.
I also value Apple News because it serves hundreds of different outlets so I can read a variety of perspectives on the same topic. Apple Inc. acts as a distributor rather than writer, leveraging multiple outlets in an easy-access forum. Aggregator’s like Apple News are critical since Australians are navigating one of the most concentrated media markets in the world (Lidberg 2019).
Diversity in the coverage of public affairs is critical because media are expected to build a mediated public sphere which reflects a range of voices, interests, and views (McQuail 1992). Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, Australia maintains the 4/5 rule which attempts to level the playing field of media diversity and block conglomerates from forming or controlling perspectives. Under the rule, metro areas must maintain five separate media outlets, whilst regional areas four. This required diversity attempts to balance the ideologies and perspectives served to Australians through mass media.
So, in a world where news is power, it’s important to be informed and to choose your sources wisely.