Syndicated Service Dependence and a Lack of Commitment to Localism: Scripps Newspapers and Market Subordination

Abstract

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Scripps chain was profitable and the largest newspaper operation in terms of number of newspapers owned. However, these two accomplishments belie the fact that most of the chain's papers were in a subordinated market position, and often the last position in the market. A content analysis and historical assessment suggest the chain's heavy dependence on syndicated material and lack of commitment to local issues contributed to the subordinated market position.