Postgraduate research opportunities The impact of media ownership structure on news coverage
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Saturday 4 January 2025
- Deadline: Monday 31 March 2025
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 36 months
- Funding: Home fee, International fee, Stipend
Overview
This project explores the impact of media ownership on the content and tone of news coverage, with a particular focus on how institutional investors, such as hedge funds, influence news outlets and affect information dissemination. By examining these dynamics, the project aims to provide insights into the broader implications for financial markets, public opinion, and decision-making.Eligibility
Strathclyde Business School is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive postgraduate research population. We make decisions on entry by assessing the whole person and not relying solely on academic achievements.
On that basis, please ensure that your application (via your CV and covering letter) can evidence your resourcefulness, commitment and resilience as demonstrated by broader professional and life experiences. This evidence should be centred on your ability to undertake and complete a PhD and contribute to a positive PhD community.
If English is not your first language, you need an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent with no individual element below 5.5.
Project Details
Start date: 1 October 2025
We're living in the information age, where reliable and timely information is one of the most valuable resources.
This information:
- shapes public opinion
- influences political decisions
- affects the trading activities of individual and institutional investors (including hedge funds, mutual funds, and pension funds)
- impacts corporate decision-making,
- guides the actions of public entities like central banks
(Tetlock, 2007; Bushee et al., 2010; Solomon et al., 2014; Gao et al., 2020).
Therefore, access to trusted, objective information is essential for decision-making throughout our society.
However, this significance also incentivises various groups to influence the type and tone of information that reaches the public. For example, according to Financial Times (2021), hedge funds and private equity firms now control half of the daily newspapers in the United States. This raises concerns about the independence and objectivity of news coverage.
Despite the importance of this issue, there is limited evidence on how media ownership structures affect the content and tone of news coverage.
This project aims to address this gap in the existing literature. Given the critical role of news in today's world, this project will provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics between media ownership and information dissemination.
Further information
Both your supervisors will provide guidance on the methodological and empirical aspects of the project.
The Department of Accounting & Finance, along with the faculty, organises various workshops and seminars.
Additionally, you'll benefit from targeted training in advanced textual analysis and machine learning through the Centre for Doctoral Training in FinTech.
The department's extensive alumni network ensures you'll have access to practical experience and industry insights. Furthermore, you'll have the opportunity to attend advanced methodological training sessions.
Support will also be provided for attending conferences, particularly in the second and third years of your PhD studies.
Funding details
Fully-funded scholarship for 3 years covers all university tuition fees (at UK level) and an annual tax-free stipend.
International students are also eligible to apply, but must find other funding sources to cover the difference between the home and international tuition fees. Exceptional international candidates may be provided funding for this difference.
While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.
Apply
Your application must include:
- An updated curriculum vitae
- Details of two academic referees, including email addresses
- Degree certificate(s) and academic transcript(s), which must be certified copies
Number of places: 1
There will be a shortlisting and interview process.
To read how we process personal data, applicants can review our 'Privacy Notice for Student Applicants and Potential Applicants' on our Privacy notices' web page.
Accounting and Finance
Programme: Accounting and Finance
Contact us
lijie.yu@strath.ac.uk