Theorizing and mapping media ownership networks in authoritarian-populist contexts : a comparative analysis of Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, and Turkey

Schnyder, Gerhard (author), Radl, Marlene (author), Toth, Fanni (author), Küçükuzun, Melek (author), Turnšek, Tjaša (author), Çelik, Burçe (author), Pajnik, Mojca (author)

This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discussions on authoritarian populism and the media, from the lens of the political economy of ownership. In contrast to studies that consider the link between media and authoritarian populism by focusing on the discursive structures of populist communication, this study analyses changes in the structure of news media ownership in four European countries that have been subject to authoritarian populism. By employing social network analysis, a methodology rarely used in media ownership research, we reveal how news media ownership concentration as well as changes in ownership structures have provided favorable conditions for the rise and endurance of authoritarian populism. Our study covers ownership developments during the period 2000 to 2020, in Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, and Turkey where authoritarian populist tendencies have been evident, albeit to varying degrees. Conclusions are drawn to illustrate how authoritarian populist actors in the sample countries not only capitalize on prevailing news media ownership structures, but also proactively intervene in ownership relations in order to increase influence over the diffusion of information.

• Language: English
• Keywords: authoritarian populism, information diffusion, media ownership, ownership concentration, political economy of communication, social network analysis
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 38-59
• Numbering: Vol. 46, no. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-149238
• UDC: 329
• ISSN on article: 0163-4437
• DOI: 10.1177/01634437231179366
• COBISS.SI-ID: 161632259
• Publication date in RUL: 05.09.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Media, culture & society
• Shortened title: Media cult. soc.
• Publisher: Sage
• ISSN: 0163-4437
• COBISS.SI-ID: 25920000

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: avtoritarizem, populizem, mediji, družbena omrežja, Avstrija, Madžarska, Slovenija, Turčija