The Hyperlinked Scandinavian News Ecology

Abstract

The article presents a network analysis of 22,861,013 geocoded external hyperlinks, collected from 230 Danish, 220 Norwegian and 208 Swedish news websites in 2016. The analysis asks what the structural properties of the Scandinavian media systems—including its geography and ownership structures—mean for news outlets’ centrality within the hyperlinked news ecology. The analysis finds that whereas incumbent legacy media occupy central positions, about one third of the network is absent from the hyperlinked interaction, primarily local, independently owned newspapers. A multiple linear regression analysis shows that national distribution and corporate ownership correlates to network centrality more than other predictors. As brokers in the network consist of the large, legacy, capital-based news organisations, hyperlink connectivity is primarily characterised by proximity to the centres of power, corporate ownership, agenda setting incumbency and national distribution.

Keywords:

• digital news ecology
• hyperlinks
• media ownership
• news geographies
• network analysis

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Ander Foundation for financial support in conducting this research.

Notes

1. Isolated islands in the network include: In Denmark Farsø Avis, Midtvendsyssel Avis, Gråsten Avis/Bov Avis, Fjends Folkeblad, Vesthimmerlands Avis, Ugeavisen Karup, Salling Avis, Dragør Nyt, Vamdrup Ugeblad, Brønshøj-Husum Avis, Vanløse Bladet, Nordjyske Stiftstidende, Midthimmerlands Folkeblad—Folkebladet Støvring, Lyngposten, Gladsaxe Bladet, Gudenådalens Avis, Galten og Omegns Folkeblad, Østerbro Avis, Østhimmerlands Folkeblad, Sydsjællandske Tidende, and Folkebladet for Glostrup, Brøndby og Vallensbæk; in Norway Vestnesavisa, Vestavind, Hordaland Folkeblad, Vaksdalsposten, Øy-blikk, Sydvesten, Meløyavisa; and in Sweden Blekingeposten, Kalmar Läns Tidning, Alingsås Kuririen.