User-Generated Content and Bias in News Media

Management Science, 59:12, pp. 2655-2666

13 Pages Posted: 3 Feb 2011 Last revised: 9 Mar 2018

See all articles by Pinar Yildirim

Pinar Yildirim

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School

Esther Gal-Or

University of Pittsburgh - Katz Graduate School of Business

Tansev Geylani

University of Pittsburgh - Katz Graduate School of Business

Date Written: January 1, 2013

Abstract

In this study, we investigate a newspaper's decision to expand its product line by adding an online edition that incorporates user-generated content, and the impact of this decision on its slanting of news. We demonstrate that adding an online edition results in reduced profits for competing newspapers in comparison to an environment in which they offer only print editions. However, at the equilibrium, each newspaper offers the online version in order to avoid losing market share to rivals. The results also show the mitigating effect of such a product line extension on the extent of bias in print media.

Keywords: Media Competition, Bias in News, User-Generated Content, Product Line

JEL Classification: C7, L82, L1

Suggested Citation

Yildirim, Pinar and Gal-Or, Esther and Geylani, Tansev, User-Generated Content and Bias in News Media (January 1, 2013). Management Science, 59:12, pp. 2655-2666, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1753942

Pinar Yildirim (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School ( email )

3641 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365
United States

Esther Gal-Or

University of Pittsburgh - Katz Graduate School of Business ( email )

Pittsburgh, PA 15260
United States

Tansev Geylani

University of Pittsburgh - Katz Graduate School of Business ( email )

Pittsburgh, PA 15260
United States

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