Abstract:
This dissertation provides a theoretical and experimental analysis of various pressures
currently facing journalists. The first two chapters provide theoretical explanations for
two observed dynamics: the industry-wide decline of the print media; and the internal
barriers many newspapers erect between managers and journalists. The two subsequent
chapters develop experiment designs to investigate the effects of media manipulation by
government officials on reporting; and since many newspapers are currently facing
bankruptcy, the differences between two different repayment rules under Chapter 7
bankruptcy. The final chapter reports on an experiment conducted to investigate the
effect Defamation laws may have on news reporting.
