News i8 is an independently owned and operated web site not connected with any major news outlet. As such, we have the ability to express the concern that consolidation of media has created the potential for a few corporations to have significant control over the flow of information in the United States. This could also include a flow of disinformation.
The landscape of US news media remains dominated by a few major corporations in 2024. While there are some independent news sources, the majority of news consumed by Americans comes from these large conglomerates, which have a substantial influence on shaping public discourse and opinion. Here’s an updated overview of the primary players controlling significant portions of news information:
1. Comcast Corporation: Comcast continues to be the largest cable television provider in the US and owns NBCUniversal, which includes NBC News, MSNBC, and CNBC. In 2024, Comcast NBCUniversal has also been recognized for its corporate social responsibility efforts, ranking 13th on PEOPLE Magazine’s “100 Companies that Care” list[1].
2. The Walt Disney Company: Disney remains a key player, owning ABC News, ESPN, and various other cable networks. The company’s influence in entertainment and news continues to shape public discourse.
3. Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS): Paramount Global owns CBS News and has a stake in various other media properties. The company continues to adapt to the evolving media landscape, including streaming services.
4. News Corp: Owned by Rupert Murdoch, News Corp controls Fox News along with several newspapers and digital media outlets, maintaining a significant impact on conservative news coverage.
5. Warner Bros. Discovery: Following the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, this corporation now owns CNN, HBO, and other networks. The consolidation has further solidified its influence in both news and entertainment sectors.
6. AT&T: While AT&T has divested some of its media assets, it still plays a role through its ownership of Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes CNN and HBO, maintaining a foothold in the news landscape.
While major media outlets dominate the market, there are still many outlets, both large and small, that offer diverse viewpoints and coverage.
A Balanced News Diet
A “balanced news diet” should include a daily helping from independent sources, one might therefore think.
Here’s an updated summary of the funding sources for the listed independent news organizations in 2024:
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- ProPublica: Funded primarily by philanthropic foundations and individual donations. ProPublica continues to rely on grants and contributions from various foundations to support its investigative journalism efforts.
- The Center for Public Integrity: Funded by philanthropic foundations, individual donors, and earned revenue. The organization remains focused on investigative journalism and transparency.
- The Intercept: Funded by a combination of venture capital and individual donations. It has received significant backing from the First Look Media organization, which supports independent journalism.
- Mother Jones: Funded by individual donations and earned revenue. The magazine continues to engage its readership for support through memberships and donations.
- The Nation: Funded by individual donations and earned revenue. The publication relies heavily on its subscriber base and donations to maintain its operations.
- The New Republic: Funded by individual donations and earned revenue. It has made efforts to diversify its funding sources while continuing to engage its audience.
- The American Conservative: Funded by individual donations and earned revenue. The publication has maintained its focus on conservative viewpoints while relying on its readership for support.
- The Washington Monthly: Funded by individual donations and earned revenue. It continues to operate largely through subscriptions and donations from its readers.
- Raw Story: Funded by individual donations and earned revenue. The site relies on a combination of advertising and reader contributions.
- The Conversation US: Funded by institutional partners, individual donors, and earned revenue. The platform continues to promote academic expertise in journalism.
- The Daily Beast: Funded by a combination of advertising revenue and investor funding. It remains a commercially driven outlet with a focus on breaking news and analysis.
- Democracy Now!: Funded primarily by individual donations and grants from philanthropic foundations. The program continues to thrive on grassroots support.
- In These Times: Funded by individual donations and earned revenue. The publication relies on its audience for financial support.
- The Progressive: Funded primarily by individual donations and subscriptions. The magazine continues to focus on progressive issues and grassroots funding.
- Jacobin: Funded by individual donations and earned revenue. It has a strong subscription model and engages its readers for support.
- CounterPunch: Funded primarily by individual donations. The site relies heavily on reader contributions to sustain its operations.
- Truthout: Funded by individual donations and earned revenue. It continues to seek support from its audience to fund independent journalism.
- Common Dreams: Funded by individual donations and grants from philanthropic foundations. The organization focuses on progressive news and advocacy.
- TomDispatch: Funded by individual donations and earned revenue. It remains reliant on its readership for support.
- The New Internationalist: Funded primarily by subscriptions and advertising revenue. The publication continues to focus on global issues and ethical journalism.
Overall, these independent news sources primarily rely on a mix of individual donations, subscriptions, and philanthropic support, maintaining their independence from large media corporations.
Foundations Supporting Indy News
Who are the philanthropic foundations supporting some independent news outlets?
There are several philanthropic foundations supporting independent news outlets. Some of them are:
1. Knight Foundation: The Knight Foundation is a leading supporter of journalism in the United States. It provides funding to news organizations that focus on innovation, digital transformation, and audience engagement.
2. Ford Foundation: The Ford Foundation is committed to promoting social justice and promoting democracy. It supports independent news organizations that cover issues related to social justice and human rights.
3. Open Society Foundations: The Open Society Foundations is a network of philanthropic organizations that support independent media outlets globally. It has funded media organizations that report on human rights, social justice, and good governance.
4. MacArthur Foundation: The MacArthur Foundation supports independent journalism and has funded reporting on issues such as climate change, criminal justice, and global migration.
5. The Democracy Fund: The Democracy Fund supports independent news organizations that cover issues related to democracy, accountability, and governance. It also funds research and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of journalism.
Links between philanthropic foundations supporting news outlets and large media corporations are often complex. On one hand, philanthropic foundations may support independent news outlets or fund investigative journalism projects that serve to hold powerful organizations, including media corporations, accountable. On the other hand, philanthropic foundations may also provide funding to media corporations themselves, which can create conflicts of interest or concerns about editorial independence.
Ultimately, while philanthropic foundations can play an important role in supporting independent journalism and promoting transparency and accountability, it is important to carefully consider that conflicts of interest arise, for example, when these foundations partner with large media corporations.
In other words, the illusion of independence may at times be a shell game.
Who owns the US news? Fewer and fewer individuals. Therefore, at this late stage in the game, News i8 recommends considering every source and story carefully, with a calm skepticism.
Read More
[1] https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/comcast-nbcuniversal-named-people-companies-care-list-sixth-consecutive-year
[2] https://www.comcastsportstech.com/inside-track/announcing-the-10-startups-for-comcast-nbcuniversal-sportstech-2024/
[3] https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/comcast-nbcuniversal-teams-exchange-provide-service-members-free-streaming-olympic-games-paris-2024
[4] https://www.comcastsportstech.com
[5] https://corporate.comcast.com/company/nbcuniversal
[6] https://www.cmcsa.com/financials/sec-filings
[7] https://www.globalreporting.org/3bl/?fdpgno=1&mid=1264166&pgno=1
[8] https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/comcast-nbcuniversal-comprehensive-bilingual-voter-information-initiatives-2024
[9] https://grants.journalismfund.eu/en/crossborderlocal
[10] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2014_2019/plmrep/COMMITTEES/CULT/DV/2024/04-09/PublicfinancingofnewsmediaintheEU_EN.pdf
[11] https://ifpim.org
[12] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/funding-news-media-sector
[13] https://ipi.media/media-innovation-europe-renewed-2024/
[14] https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2024/dnr-executive-summary
[15] https://meedan.com/project/independent-media-response-fund
[16] https://www.mdif.org
