When the term corporate news is used, it usually refers to a newspaper, television, or radio station that is owned by a large corporation. This ownership status makes it more difficult for these media outlets to be objective and unbiased, which is what journalism traditionally strives to be. This can be particularly problematic when local news is involved. When a company purchases a small town newspaper, for example, it is likely to replace the original staff and shift its focus away from locally relevant stories toward national or international news that will appeal to a wider audience.
Many people are concerned that once a local news organization is owned by a large corporation, it will stop reporting the truth. They fear that the corporation’s highest priority will be to make profits for shareholders, and that it will avoid reporting on issues that might have a negative effect on its business. For example, if one of the corporation’s oil tankers runs aground and leaks oil into a community, it would be bad for business if the local news reported that the accident was caused by a malfunctioning piece of equipment.
While it is impossible to completely eliminate the possibility of biased news, there are a number of ways that you can reduce the amount of corporate news that you consume. One way is to support independent news sources by donating money and spreading the word about their existence. Another way is to boycott corporate news outlets by avoiding them whenever possible and seeking out alternative forms of information.
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