Cross-media ownership and democratic practice in Canada : content-sharing and the impact of new media

This is the first in-depth analysis of major French- and English-Canadian news companies to show the impact of cross-media ownership on the diversity of new content. Surprisingly, the study lays to rest fears over content convergence of newspaper and television network ownership by Canadian media giants Canwest Global, CTVglobemedia, and Quebecor. Content-sharing between newspaper and television properties of these giant companies did not occur. This leads the authors to examine why, and to assess problems that mass media in Canada will likely face in the coming years, particularly as newsrooms strive to adapt to new media and the online environment. Policy makers, media executives, and journalism students and professors will find this study invaluable. Front cover 1 Title page 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Tables 9 Preface 10 1 Media and Democratic Governance 14 Part I | Is Content-Sharing a Consequence of Convergence 32 2 Convergence: Promises and Problems 34 3 Content-Sharing in National Media 54 4 Content-Sharing in English-Language Local Market Media 70 Part II | Canadian Media: Now and into the Future 78 5 Media Executives Assess the Impact of Convergence and New Media 80 6 Stakeholders Assess the State of Canadian Media 92 7 Old Media, New Media, Any Media? 108 Postscript 116 Notes 122 References 132 Contributors 148 Index 150 Other Titles from University of Alberta Press 161