Abstract
This study uses institutional theory from the study of organizations to explore the degree to which newspapers and TV stations pursue partnerships for concrete benefits, and the degree to which they pursue them to keep up with perceived trends in the industry. Findings from a national survey of newspaper and TV news managers revealed that availability of resources and the goal-oriented pursuit of concrete benefits best predict initiation of partnerships. However, strength of commitment to partnering correlated more strongly with institutional factors—i.e., managers' professional involvement and the level of partnering of nearby “flagship” news institutions and competitors. This was the case even when controlling for business factors such as competition, penetration, and public ownership.
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