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Is all publicity good publicity? The impact of direct and indirect media pressure on the adoption of governance practices

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  • Andrew V. Shipilov
  • Henrich R. Greve
  • Timothy J. Rowley

Abstract

Research Summary Media coverage is known to influence firms' behavior, but it is less known whether coverage of firms' partners also has an effect. In a context of governance practices' diffusion in Canada, we distinguish the effect of direct media coverage of the firm's activities, from indirect coverage, defined as media coverage of the firms' interlock partners. We examine whether the coverage is laden with positive or negative emotions. We find that both direct and indirect media coverage have a strong effect on firms' adoption of practices, either when the tone is positive or negative. The findings indicate that media coverage has broader and deeper effects on firms' actions than previously known. Managerial Summary Firms are under pressure from many outside stakeholders who want them to change. This pressure is felt strongly when it is expressed through mass media attention to the firms or their practices, and often persuades management to make changes. We examine the effect of media coverage on changes in governance practices, finding that media influences reach all the way to the board. In addition, we find that both critique and praise can lead a firm to make changes in its governance practices. The media attention does not even have to be directed to the firm itself: when media targets companies that share common directors with the focal firm, the firm's board usually responds by adopting governance practices as if media targeted the firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew V. Shipilov & Henrich R. Greve & Timothy J. Rowley, 2019. "Is all publicity good publicity? The impact of direct and indirect media pressure on the adoption of governance practices," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(9), pages 1368-1393, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:stratm:v:40:y:2019:i:9:p:1368-1393
    DOI: 10.1002/smj.3030
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    Cited by:

    1. Lorenzo Gai & Maria Cristina Arcuri & Federica Ielasi, 2023. "How does government-backed finance affect SMEs’ crisis predictors?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 1205-1229, October.
    2. Xiaocui Li & Nengmin Wang & Bin Jiang & Tao Jia, 2023. "Institutional pressures and proactive environmental strategy: The mediating effect of top managerial environment attitude and the moderating effect of new media pressure," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 6106-6123, December.
    3. Andrew Shipilov & Yeonsin Ahn & Henrich Greve & Tim Rowley, 2024. "The impact of governance practices on firm outcomes: a machine-learning exploration," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 13(2), pages 45-64, June.
    4. Prithwiraj Choudhury & Dan Wang & Natalie A. Carlson & Tarun Khanna, 2019. "Machine learning approaches to facial and text analysis: Discovering CEO oral communication styles," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(11), pages 1705-1732, November.
    5. Yongyuan Ma & Ao Shen & Qingyuan Zhu & Peng Wang, 2022. "Media environment, venture capital, and technological innovation: Evidence from China," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(6), pages 1734-1747, September.
    6. Ruiqian Li & Ramakrishnan Ramanathan & Guanghua Xu, 2023. "The impact of penalties for environmental violations on corporate environmental responsibility," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1343-1363, June.
    7. Jian Zhou & Xiaodong Lei & Jianglong Yu, 2024. "ESG rating divergence and corporate green innovation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 2911-2930, May.
    8. Chen, Zan & Jin, Jun & Li, Meng, 2022. "Does media coverage influence firm green innovation? The moderating role of regional environment," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    9. Farida Saleem & Yingying Zhang-Zhang & Muhammad Imran Malik & Alawiya Allui, 2020. "Revisiting Stakeholder Theory and Environmentalism: Evidence from an Emerging Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-20, October.
    10. Vivek Astvansh & Yen‐Yao Wang & Wei Shi, 2022. "The effects of the news media on a firm's voluntary product recalls," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(11), pages 4223-4244, November.
    11. Hitoshi Mitsuhashi & Azusa Nakamura, 2022. "Pay and networks in organizations: Incentive redesign as a driver of network change," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(2), pages 295-322, February.
    12. Diwei Lv, David & Zhu, Hang & Chen, Weihong & Lan, Hailin, 2021. "Negative performance feedback and firm cooperation: How multiple upward social comparisons affect firm cooperative R&D," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 872-883.
    13. Marie Dutordoir & Frederiek Schoubben & Kristof Struyfs & Wouter Torsin, 2024. "Environmental pressure and board gender diversity: Evidence from the European Union Emission Trading System," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 3911-3935, July.
    14. Charl de Villiers & Ruth Dimes, 2021. "Determinants, mechanisms and consequences of corporate governance reporting: a research framework," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 25(1), pages 7-26, March.
    15. Lili Dai & Rui Shen & Bohui Zhang, 2021. "Does the media spotlight burn or spur innovation?," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 343-390, March.

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