The THE ROLE OF OWNERSHIP IN SHAPING ONLINE NEWS CONTENT: A POLITICAL ECONOMY ANALYSIS

Abstract

There is a correlation between the ownership of media outlets and the selection of news content
in Bangladesh because of the growth of online media. This study examines the ownership and media content of www.prothomalo.com, the most prominent online news portal in Bangladesh. The analysis was conducted using a qualitative approach and in-depth interviews. Four important elements are discussed: the ownership pattern and their reasons for investing in this sector; the corporate relationship between the business firms and www.prothomalo.com; news content categories and their presentation on www.prothomalo.com; and cited sources on www.prothomalo.com. The findings suggest that the ownership of online media outlets by corporate conglomerates raises concerns regarding the independence, objectivity and restricts the diversity of online news in Bangladesh.