Television companies Nexstar Media Group and Tegna plan to merge, raising concerns for the future of local journalism.
According to NPR, Nexstar plans to buy Tegna in a $6.2 billion deal, but the merger has been delayed due to multiple lawsuits trying to block it. The merging of these two companies would create the largest operator of television stations in the country, reaching 80% of households nationwide, according to Poynter.
The Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was required to approve the merger due to rules that limited the number of local stations one company can own, according to NPR. Nexstar chairman and CEO Perry Sook thanked President Trump, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and the Department of Justice for recognizing “the dynamic forces shaping the media landscape…” Shortly after, attorney generals in eight states, along with DirecTV, filed lawsuits against the merger, claiming it will lead to higher prices for consumers, according to NPR.
Indianapolis will also face consequences following the proposed merge, according to Axios, with most major news stations in the city belonging to only Nexstar-Tegna and Circle City Broadcasting. This could lead to concerns about editorial independence, along with competition for local TV stations.
From a business standpoint, this merger would reduce costs for resources, said University of Indianapolis Assistant Professor of Practice in Communication and General Manager of WICR and UINDY TV, Rick Dunkle. As someone who runs a media program, Dunkle believes that this merger will make it harder for students to find jobs after graduation.
“…It’s not great for our students to see that there’s such a consolidation happening, because that means that there’s going to be a reduction in job openings and roles that are available,” Dunkle said. “More people fighting for fewer spots means less opportunities for people, and less opportunities is always a bad thing.”
While the Nexstar/Tegna merger might reduce job opportunities, Dunkle does not believe it will limit the amount of reliable news available to the Indianapolis community. The biggest concern is the impact of consolidation on the job market.
