This study analyzes the effect of changes in corporate ownership at three large metropolitan daily newspapers as reflected in the content of lead Sunday editorials at each newspaper. The study sought to determine whether changes in type of ownership would increase the number of neutral editorials in the post-incorporation era for the newspapers. The results suggest incorporation has an influence on the editorial content of the newspapers. Two of the three newspapers showed significant increases in the percentage of neutral editorials after changes in ownership. In addition, editorial domains were defined as either political, economic, or social. When controlling for these domains, logistic regression shows each newspaper altered its use of neutral editorials in a significant manner. The Atlanta Journal- Constitution increased the percentage of neutral editorials across each of the dimensions, the New York Times increased its use of neutral editorials across the economic and political dimensions while decreasing the percentage of neutral social editorials, and the Washington Post increased its use of neutral editorials across each of the three dimensions. / Ph. D.

This study gives an historical account of foreign ownership of newspapers in Kenya. Since the establishment of the first newspaper in the early 1900s, to the modern publication of daily newspapers in Kenya, the press has been dominated by foreign owners, writers and advertisers. Before independence from Britain, foreign domination was expressed by the total disregard of the African by the newspapers. After independence, foreign domination continued as the government, dedicated to the free enterprise capitalist system, has not made any substantial effort to nationalize already established newspaper companies. In 1977 the first African-owned newspaper, a weekly was established. Today, there is no African-owned daily newspaper. All indications are that only the modernizing process will result in African ownership and control of newspapers.