Watchdog versus yes man: News source and media competition

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Kishishita, Daiki; Sato, Susumu
• 署名单位: Hitotsubashi University; Hitotsubashi University
• 刊物名称: GAMES AND ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0899-8256
• DOI: 10.1016/j.geb.2025.06.007
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 233-253
• 关键词: Media competition; News source; media bias; differentiation; Watchdog journalism

摘要

Watchdog journalism, the idea that independent media outlets monitor people in power, can be undermined when the people in power serve as news sources on which the media rely. By developing a model of media competition with a strategic news source, we show that the presence of a news source creates pro-source biases; the coexistence of neutral watchdogs and biased yes men arises as an outcome of mixed strategy equilibrium. This bias can make the presence of a news source harmful to consumers.