Paper Trails: The History of US Mass Media Ownership

ID : 3167

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In this course, we will trace the history of American journalism and examine how control of the press has shifted over time, from political patrons and penny-press advertisers to broadcast regulators, cable moguls, and today’s social media platforms. We will consider how each shift has shaped journalism’s relationship to democracy and public trust. We will develop a richer understanding of why American media looks the way it does today and a more critical eye for the structural forces that influence news coverage. We will deepen our appreciation for the independent, nonprofit, and public media institutions working to sustain journalism as a public good.

Caroline Nappo, PhD, is an independent scholar with interests in the history of libraries and information institutions, information as a public good, and the political economy of information. She has an MS and PhD in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois.

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