Assessing the Effects of Media Ownership on Journalism Practices:A Case Study of Private Electronic Media Houses in Lusaka
Abstract
This study examines the effects of media ownership on journalism practices, using a case study approach focused on private electronic media houses in Lusaka, Zambia. The research aimed to assess the influence of media ownership on content production, agenda-setting, and news coverage, while investigating its role in media bias, censorship, editorial decision-making, and ethical practices. Additionally, the study explores how ownership impacts the autonomy and independence of journalists in these media outlets. The case study design was adopted to allow for an in-depth analysis of private media houses, with a particular emphasis on how ownership structures shape journalistic output. Purposive sampling was used to select key media professionals, including journalists, editors, and managers, from private electronic media houses in Lusaka. Data collection involved structured questionnaires and interviews, which gathered both quantitative and qualitative information on the respondents' experiences with ownership influence. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data, while qualitative data were processed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that media ownership plays a critical role in shaping editorial content, often reflecting the political or commercial interests of the owners. This influence frequently leads to biased news coverage, where stories are selected or framed to align with ownership agendas. Many journalists reported facing censorship or indirect pressure to conform to the priorities of media owners, which often resulted in compromised ethical standards, particularly in fairness and accountability. Furthermore, ownership was shown to affect the autonomy of journalists, with many experiencing significant restrictions on their independence in decision-making. Based on these findings, the study recommends the implementation of stronger regulatory frameworks to promote transparency in media ownership and protect editorial independence. Additionally, alternative funding models are encouraged to reduce the dependence of media houses on politically motivated funding. The study also advocates for internal policies that prioritize journalistic integrity and ongoing professional development for journalists to navigate ownership pressures effectively. Enhancing public media literacy is suggested as a way to support independent journalism. These results provide valuable insights into the relationship between media ownership and journalistic practices in Zambia, with broader implications for media freedom and ethics.
References
[2] Baker, C. E. (2007). Media concentration and democracy: Why ownership matters. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[3] Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
[4] Cheeseman, N. and Hinfelaar, M. (2018). 'The political economy of Zambia's media: Consolidation and control', African Affairs, 117(468), pp. 459–485.
[5] Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) (2020). Attacks on the press 2020. New York: CPJ.
[6] Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
[7] Croteau, D. and Hoynes, W. (2006). The business of media: Corporate media and the public interest. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.
[8] Curran, J. and Seaton, J. (2018). Power without responsibility: The press, broadcasting, and the internet in Britain. London: Routledge.
[9] Doyle, G. (2002). Media ownership: The economics and politics of convergence and concentration in the UK and European media. London: SAGE.
[10] Flick, U. (2018). An Introduction to Qualitative Research (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
[11] Freedom House (2021). Freedom in the world 2021: Zambia. Available at: freedomhouse.org (Accessed: 13 December 2024).
[12] Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). How many interviews are enough? Field Methods, 18(1), 59–82.
[13] Herman, E. S. and Chomsky, N. (1988). Manufacturing consent: The political economy of the mass media. New York: Pantheon Books.
[14] Herman, E. S. and Chomsky, N. (2002). Manufacturing consent: The political economy of the mass media (2nd ed.). New York: Pantheon Books.
[15] Kovach, B. and Rosenstiel, T. (2007). The elements of journalism: What newspeople should know and the public should expect. New York: Crown Publishing.
[16] Mambwe, B. (2018). 'Private media ownership and political bias in Zambia', Zambian Journal of Media Studies, 5(3), pp. 45–63.
[17] McChesney, R. W. (2008). The political economy of media: Enduring issues, emerging dilemmas. New York: Monthly Review Press.
[18] McChesney, R. W. (2016). Rich media, poor democracy: Communication politics in dubious times. New York: The New Press.
[19] McCombs, M. E. and Shaw, D. L. (1972). 'The agenda-setting function of mass media', Public Opinion Quarterly, 36(2), pp. 176–187.
[20] McQuail, D. (2010). McQuail's mass communication theory (6th ed.). London: SAGE.
[21] Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) (2019). Media diversity and ownership in South Africa. Pretoria: MDDA.
[22] Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia (2019). Media ownership and pluralism in Zambia. Lusaka: MISA Zambia.Media Ownership Monitor (MOM) Zambia (2020). Concentration of media ownership in Zambia. Lusaka: MOM.
[23] Mosco, V. (2009). The political economy of communication (2nd ed.). London: SAGE.
[24] Noam, E. M. (2009). Media ownership and concentration in America. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[25] Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
[26] Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (2020). Digital news report 2020. Oxford: Reuters Institute.
[27] Shoemaker, P. J. and Reese, S. D. (1996). Mediating the message: Theories of influences on mass media content (2nd ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.
[28] Simutanyi, N. (2020). 'Media pluralism and public discourse in Zambia', Zambian Journal of Communication Studies, 7(2), pp. 112–127.
[29] Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) (2014). Code of ethics. Available at: spj.org (Accessed: 13 December 2024).
[30] StataCorp. (2015). STATA User's Guide Release 14. StataCorp LP.
[31] The Post Newspaper (2016). 'Closure and implications for press freedom', Zambian Media Journal, 4(1), pp. 23–37.
[32] UNESCO (2019). World trends in freedom of expression and media development. Paris: UNESCO.
[33] Williams, K. (2020). Understanding media theory (3rd ed.). London: Bloomsbury.
[34] Wimmer, R. D., & Dominick, J. R. (2013). Mass Media Research: An Introduction (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
[35] Yin, R. K. (2014). Case Study Research: Design and Methods (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
[36] Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) (2020). Media regulation and press freedom in Zambia. Lusaka: ZICTA.
Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.