Media Ownership Matters 2024

Mass media influence the way facts are viewed and debated in the society. Independence and pluralism in media, public opinion and views – including criticism of people in power – are the safeguards of a healthy democracy. Monitoring and ensuring ownership pluralism is the first step toward independence and freedom of choice.

How can people evaluate the reliability of information if they don't know who provides it? How can journalists work properly if they don't know who controls the company they work for? And how can media authorities address excessive media concentration if they don't know who is behind the media’s steering wheel? Ownership structure may also affect the way the media industry manages its resources. It shapes the economic strength and efficiency of the media sector, which is of particular interest to potential investors.

By mapping out these questions, the Media Ownership Monitor found that in Lebanon, audience shares in each sector of print, radio, television, and online are concentrated among a handful of key political players and families, creating a highly polarized landscape. In general, transparency of media ownership structures and access to data are also limited, with no obligation for any owner to publicly display their political affiliation.

Find out more about 'Who owns the media?' in our database.

The information on this website is subject to regular review, based on information provided by the media outlets and companies as well as public records. In light of any relevant development in Lebanon, information displayed on the website is subject to change, accordingly.

Media & Owners Databases

Media

Owners

Key Findings

Family Connections

A Family Business

Many political dynasties have been playing leading roles in Lebanese politics since the independence of the country. The media sector is no exception to this situation with 12 families involved in the media sector.

Ownership Transparency

Clouds on Transparency Continue

After nearly a decade of preparation, Lebanon’s Parliament ratified an Access to Information law in January 2017. But accessing data is still difficult because of the absence of formal procedures to do so, and because the information would be provided by the Commercial Register, which already provides an interface to access information.

(Political) Control Over Media Outlets

Media in the Political Maze

Out of all monitored media outlets, almost all of them have political links. Political affiliations of owners are herein understood when a media outlet or company belongs to a party, a partisan group, a party leader or a clearly partisan person.

Indicators of Risk to Media Pluralism