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Investigative journalism and media capture in the digital age

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  • Choi, Jay Pil
  • Yang, Sangwoo

Abstract

This paper develops a model of investigative journalism and media capture in the market for news with the depreciation of the value of news over time and a limited exclusive supply period of original news due to copying by other media outlets. We make distinctions between traditional media outlets that engage in investigative journalism and fringe digital media that mainly copy and spread original news created elsewhere. We show that the quantity and quality of news with investigative journalism decrease and media capture is more likely as digital technologies induce a lower fixed cost of entry for the fringe firms and a shorter exclusive supply period of news. These results may explain why there is scant evidence for the conventional view that more media outlets lead to higher quality news and less political capture, despite proliferation of news and information outlets in the digital age.

Suggested Citation

  • Choi, Jay Pil & Yang, Sangwoo, 2021. "Investigative journalism and media capture in the digital age," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iepoli:v:57:y:2021:i:c:s0167624521000305
    DOI: 10.1016/j.infoecopol.2021.100942
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media

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