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NordJourn Seminar: The Role of Media Ownership

Society and economy

The sixth NordJourn seminar explores the role of ownership in media performance, examining the topic from two perspectives. Firstly, it examines the impact of media consolidation on content in the Finnish media. Secondly, it explores how non-market-leading news organizations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark approach audience analytics.

Webinar
Date
25 Mar 2025
Time
15:00 - 16:30
Location
Zoom
Cost
Kostnadsfritt

Participants
Ville Manninen, PhD, researcher, University of Jyväskylä
Visa Noronen, Doctoral Candidate, University of Jyväskylä
Good to know
A link to the seminar will be provided after registration.
Organizer
NordMedia Network

The presentations will be delivered by researchers Ville Manninen and Visa Noronen from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. 

How Does Ownership Shape Content?

Ville Manninen, PhD, Researcher, University of Jyväskylä

The Finnish news media is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few major owners—but should this be seen as a threat? Drawing on extensive research conducted in Finland, the presentation examines the declining trajectory of local and regional newspapers, most of which published significantly fewer stories in 2023 than in 2013. While the remaining print content largely focuses on readers’ critical information needs, the overall trend is negative. However, variations exist across different newspapers, with two noticeable trends: a stronger emphasis on local content and an increased reliance on syndicated material.

Why Do Non-Market Leaders Use Audience Analytics Differently?

Visa Noronen, Doctoral Candidate, University of Jyväskylä

News organizations across the Nordic countries have made significant progress in leveraging audience analytics. However, many non-market-leading media outlets – 16 of which have been interviewed across Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark – are choosing a different path. While some are simply slow to adopt the best practices of market leaders, others actively resist following the same trajectory, limiting their use of audience analytics for editorial decision-making, despite their digital expertise. In addition to resource constraints, two key factors appear to explain these differences: how news organizations perceive their target audience and how ownership influences their ability to use audience analytics.

The NordJourn seminar series welcomes scholars to lectures and conversations focusing on journalism and journalism research. NordJourn seeks to address timely topics and themes, providing a platform for sharing recently published research as well as research projects underway. The NordJourn seminar series is organized in collaboration between four Nordic media departments:

  • Department of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Gothenburg.
  • Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)
  • Department of Communication and Arts, Roskilde University
  • Department of Language and Communication Studies, University of Jyväskylä