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User-Generated Content and Bias in News Media

Author

Listed:
  • Pinar Yildirim

    (The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104)

  • Esther Gal-Or

    (Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260)

  • Tansev Geylani

    (Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260)

Abstract

In this study, we investigate newspapers' decision to expand their product lines by adding online editions that incorporate user-generated content. We demonstrate that such product line extensions mitigate the extent of slanting in print media. The results also show that as the extent of discretion of users to generate online content increases, print versions of newspapers become more polarized. Furthermore, adding online editions results in reduced profits for newspapers as the additional product variants increase the intensity of competition in the market and the discretion awarded to users limits the ability of newspapers to extract rents from consumers.Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2013.1746 . This paper was accepted by J. Miguel Villas-Boas, marketing.

Suggested Citation

  • Pinar Yildirim & Esther Gal-Or & Tansev Geylani, 2013. "User-Generated Content and Bias in News Media," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(12), pages 2655-2666, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:59:y:2013:i:12:p:2655-2666
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2013.1746
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Alexandron-Lavon, Anat & Epstein, Gil S. & Lindner-Pomerantz, Renana, 2018. "The effect of ideological positions on job market interaction: A spatial analysis," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 261-274.
    4. Knill, April & Liu, Baixiao & McConnell, John J. & McKenzie, Glades, 2024. "The influence of media slant on short sellers," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Yi Liu & Pinar Yildirim & Z. John Zhang, 2022. "Implications of Revenue Models and Technology for Content Moderation Strategies," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 41(4), pages 831-847, July.
    6. Petrova, Maria & Yildirim, Pinar & Sen, Ananya, 2017. "Social Media and Political Donations: New Technology and Incumbency Advantage in the United States," CEPR Discussion Papers 11808, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Alexandron-Lavon, Anat & Epstein, Gil S. & Lindner Pomerantz, Renana, 2017. "The Effect of Ideological Positions on Job Market Interaction," IZA Discussion Papers 11152, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. George, Lisa M. & Peukert, Christian, 2019. "Social networks and the demand for news," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    9. Jun Hu, 2021. "Regulation of media bias on online newspapers," Working Papers hal-03120466, HAL.
    10. Sendhil Mullainathan & Andrei Shleifer, 2005. "The Market for News," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(4), pages 1031-1053, September.
    11. Alexandre de Corniere & Miklos Sarvary, 2017. "Social Media and the News Industry," Working Papers 17-07, NET Institute.
    12. Maria Petrova & Ananya Sen & Pinar Yildirim, 2021. "Social Media and Political Contributions: The Impact of New Technology on Political Competition," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(5), pages 2997-3021, May.
    13. Leonardo Madio, 2023. "Content Moderation and Advertising in Social Media Platforms," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0297, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".
    14. Leonardo Madio & Martin Quinn, 2024. "Content Moderation and Advertising in Social Media Platforms," CESifo Working Paper Series 11169, CESifo.
    15. Zhang, Guoquan & Shang, Jennifer & Yildirim, Pinar, 2016. "Optimal pricing for group buying with network effects," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 69-82.
    16. Yi Liu & Pinar Yildirim & Z. John Zhang, 2021. "Social Media, Content Moderation, and Technology," Papers 2101.04618, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2021.

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