This is the first in-depth analysis of major French- and English-Canadian news companies to show the impact of cross-media ownership on the diversity of new content. Surprisingly, the study lays to rest fears over content convergence of newspaper and television network ownership by Canadian media giants Canwest Global, CTVglobemedia, and Quebecor. Content-sharing between newspaper and television properties of these giant companies did not occur. This leads the authors to examine why, and to assess problems that mass media in Canada will likely face in the coming years, particularly as newsrooms strive to adapt to new media and the online environment. Policy makers, media executives, and journalism students and professors will find this study invaluable. Groundbreaking study of cross-media ownership allays concerns of content convergence monopolization among newspapers and television. This benchmark study is the first in-depth analysis of major French- and English-Canadian news companies to show the impact of cross-media ownership on the provision of new content through content-sharing. The book addresses the role of news media in providing diverse information and a forum for the public debate needed for a healthy democracy. Contrary to common perceptions about convergence, the authors of this study found that content-sharing within the newspaper and television properties of Canadian media giants Canwest Global, CTVglobemedia, and Quebecor did not occur, leading the authors to examine why. Through interviews with media executives, journalists, journalist educators, media labour groups, and policy-makers, the authors assess problems that mass media in Canada will likely face in the coming years, particularly as newsrooms strive to adapt to new media and the online environment. Policy makers and media executives along with students in journalism and their professors will find this study invaluable. About the Authors Walter C. Soderlund is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science at the University of Windsor. Colette Brin is Professor, Département d'information et de communication, Université Laval in Québec. Lydia Miljan is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Windsor. Kai Hildebrandt is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Windsor. Soderlund and Hildebrandt (with Romanow and Wagenberg) co-wrote Canadian Newspaper Ownership in the Era of Convergence: Rediscovering Social Responsibility. Introduction, notes, tables, bibliography, index [W]hat the authors discovered was rather surprising and intriguing: contrary to popular belief, content-sharing in the Canadian media isn't as widespread as previously thought.... [I]n my view, this important and well-researched study provides a window into a period of time when media convergence was still regarded as a powerful tool-and seems to prove that various concerns may have been overstated. For the most part, TV stations and newspapers owned by the same company don't necessarily think alike, act alike or even report the news alike.... Hence, the identity of each entity, as well as the guiding democratic principles, appears to have remained intact." Michael Taube, Literary Review of Canada, August 2012 [Full review at http://bit.ly/TFtGy8] "The authors report on what is said to be the first in-depth study of top French- and English-Canadian news companies, and illustrates the effects of cross-media ownership on providing news with content sharing." Book News Inc., 2013
