A Theory of Financial Media

56 Pages Posted: 2 Oct 2019 Last revised: 17 Aug 2021

See all articles by Eitan Goldman

Eitan Goldman

Indiana University - Kelley School of Business - Department of Finance; European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

Jordan Martel

Indiana University Bloomington, Kelley School of Business

Jan Schneemeier

Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business

Date Written: October 2, 2020

Abstract

We present a model of media coverage of corporate announcements. Firms strategically use the media to communicate corporate announcements to a group of traders who do not observe announcements directly, but only through media reports. Journalists strategically select which announcements to report to their readers. Media coverage inadvertently incentivizes firms to manipulate the underlying announcements. In equilibrium, media coverage is tilted towards less manipulated negative news. The presence of financial journalists leads to more manipulation but makes stock prices more informative on average. We provide additional predictions regarding the media's impact on the quality of firm announcements and stock prices.

Keywords: financial journalism, disclosure, manipulation, price quality

JEL Classification: D82, G14, M40

Suggested Citation

Goldman, Eitan and Martel, Jordan and Schneemeier, Jan, A Theory of Financial Media (October 2, 2020). European Corporate Governance Institute – Finance Working Paper No. 657/2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3457591 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3457591

Eitan Goldman

Indiana University - Kelley School of Business - Department of Finance ( email )

1309 E. 10th St.
Bloomington, IN 47405
United States
812-856-0749 (Phone)

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) ( email )

c/o the Royal Academies of Belgium
Rue Ducale 1 Hertogsstraat
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Jordan Martel

Indiana University Bloomington, Kelley School of Business ( email )

HOME PAGE: http://www.jordanmartel.com

Jan Schneemeier (Contact Author)

Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business ( email )

632 Bogue St
East Lansing, MI 48824
United States

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