Social Responsibility of the Media: Proposal of a Corporate Transparency Index
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51915/ret.423Keywords:
Corporate Transparency, Media, journalistic transparency, media accountability, TrustAbstract
Transparency in media ownership and management constitutes both an accountability instrument and a key indicator of social responsibility. From this starting point, this research pursues a dual objective. On the one hand, it conducts a systematic review of the literature relating to corporate transparency and analytical methodologies; on the other, it proposes an index for assessing the openness and the degree of information made available by media companies concerning their ownership and management. Based on a qualitative evaluation of academic, legal, and professional approaches, as well as an examination of good practices in selected media outlets, the study proposes a tool for measuring corporate transparency, comprising 16 indicators structured into six thematic blocks – ownership and structure, sources of funding, financial disclosure, editorial responsibility, performance/results, and accessibility and updating of information. The Media Corporate Transparency Index (MeCorTI) thus provides an innovative instrument to rigorously and systematically analyse the openness of media organisations to society and their fulfilment of social responsibility.
Downloads
Global Statistics ℹ️
|
0
Views
|
0
Downloads
|
|
0
Total
|
|
References
ADCOCK, R., & COLLIER, D. (2001). “Measurement validity: A shared standard for qualitative and quantitative research”, American Political Science Review, 95(3): 529–546. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055401003100
AIE, ACCESS INFO EUROPE (2013). The ten recommendations on transparency of media ownership. https://www.access-info.org/wp-content/uploads/TMO_Recommendations_05_November_2013.pdf
ALLEN, D. S. (2008). “The trouble with transparency”, Journalism Studies, núm. 9(3): 323–340. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616700801997224.
BONIXE, L. (2024). “Promoting Transparency as a Strategy for Affirmation in the News Market: An Analysis of Entrepreneurial Journalism Projects”, Comunicação e sociedade, núm. (46): 1–22. https://doi.org/10.17231/comsoc.46(2024).5703
BOWLES, N., HAMILTON, J. T., & LEVY, D. A. (Eds.). (2013). Transparency in politics and the media: accountability and open government. Bloomsbury Publishing.
BRUNS, A. (2004). ‘‘Reconfiguring Journalism: syndication, gatewatching and multiperspectival news’’, en Goggin, G. (Ed.), Virtual Nation: the internet in Australia, Sydney: UNSW Press, pp. 177–192.
CAMPOS DOMÍNGUEZ, E., & REDONDO GARCÍA, M. (2015). “Meta periodismo y transparencia informativa en el periodismo del siglo XXI”, Obets. Revista de ciencias sociales, núm. 10(1); 185–209. https://doi.org/10.14198/OBETS2015.10.1.07
CMDS, CENTER FOR MEDIA, DATA AND SOCIETY (2025a). Media Influence Matrix: What’s It All About? https://cmds.ceu.edu/media-influence-matrix-whats-it-all-about
CMDS, CENTER FOR MEDIA, DATA AND SOCIETY (2025b). Media Influence Matrix Research Template. https://cmds.ceu.edu/media-influence-matrix-research-template
CHADHA, K., & KOLISKA, M. (2015). “Newsrooms and transparency in the digital age”, Journalism Practice, núm. 9(2): 215–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2014.924737
CHAPARRO-DOMÍNGUEZ, M. Á., PÉREZ-PEREIRO, M., & RODRÍGUEZ-MARTÍNEZ, R. (2021). “Media accountability in the age of social media: Participatory transparency of the audience in Spain”, Global Media and Communication, núm. 17(3): 281–296. https://doi.org/10.1177/1742766521990417
COOLS, H., & KOLISKA, M. (2024). “News Automation and Algorithmic Transparency in the Newsroom: The Case of the Washington Post”, Journalism Studies, núm. 25(6): 662–680. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2024.2326636
CUCCINIELLO, M., & NASI, G. (2014). “Transparency for trust in government: How effective is formal transparency?”, International Journal of Public Administration, núm. 37(13): 911–921. https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2014.949754
DANAEE FARD, H., & ANVARY ROSTAMY, A. A. (2007). “Promoting public trust in public organizations: Explaining the role of public accountability”, Public Organization Review, núm. 7(4): 331–344.
DEUZE, M. (2005). ‘‘What Is Journalism? Professional identity and ideology of journalists reconsidered’’, Journalism, núm. 6(4): 442–464. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884905056815
DÍEZ GARRIDO, M., & CAMPOS DOMÍNGUEZ, E. M. (2018). “Los periodistas ante la transparencia en España: valoración y uso de la apertura informativa”, Revista Española de la transparencia, núm. (7): 49–69. https://doi.org/10.51915/ret.9
EUROMEDIA OWNERSHIP MONITOR (EurOMo) (2020). The methodology. https://media-ownership.eu/about/theory/
EUROPEAN COMMISSION. (2020). Protecting European democracy from interference and manipulation – European Democracy Action Plan. https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12506-European-Democracy-Action-Plan
EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2024). European Media Freedom Act. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1083
FENGLER, S. (2019). “Accountability in Journalism”, in VOS, T. & HANUSCH, F. (eds.). The international encyclopedia of journalism studies. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118841570.iejs0078
FENGLER, S., EBERWEIN, T., & KARMASIN, M. (eds.) (2022). The global handbook of media accountability. New York: Routledge.
FIGUEIRA, A., & SILVA, E. C. (2023). “A transparência como dimensão da qualidade: A propriedade dos média e os desafios da (in) visibilidade”, Comunicação e sociedade, núm. (44): 1–22. https://doi.org/10.17231/comsoc.44(2023).4708
FISHER, C., FLEW, T., PARK, S., LEE, J. Y., & DULLECK, U. (2020). “Improving Trust in News: Audience Solutions”, Journalism Practice, núm. 15(10): 1497–1515. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2020.1787859
GRUNDMANN, S. (2018). Media Ownership - Transparency - Regulation Council of Europe Standard Setting. Council of Europe. https://bit.ly/472wpza
HAYES, A. S., SINGER, J. B., & CEPPOS, J. (2007). ‘‘Shifting Roles, Enduring Values: the credible journalist in a digital age’’, Journal of Mass Media Ethics, núm. 22(4): 262–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/08900520701583545
HEIM, K., & CRAFT, S. (2020). Transparency in journalism: Meanings, merits, and risks, in Wilkins, B., & Christians, C. G. (Eds.). The Routledge handbook of mass media ethics. Routledge, pp. 308–320.
HOLTZ-BACHA, C. (2024). “Freedom of the media, pluralism, and transparency. European media policy on new paths?”, European Journal of Communication, núm. 39(1): 37–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/02673231231176966
JIMÉNEZ-YAÑEZ, C., MANCINAS-CHÁVEZ, R., & FIGUEREO-BENÍTEZ, J. C. (2025). “El negocio de la comunicación en Iberoamérica: diversificación y concentración mediática. Casos en Chile, México y España”, IROCAMM-International Review Of Communication And Marketing Mix, núm. 8(1): 84–105. https://doi.org/10.12795/IROCAMM.2025.v08.i01.05
JOHNSTONE, J. W., SLAWSKI, E. J., & BOWMAN, W. W. (1972). “The professional values of American newsmen”, Public opinion quarterly, núm. 36(4): 522–540.
KAHN, G. (2025). Estos medios intentan fomentar la confianza a través de la transparencia. ¿Está funcionando? Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. https://bit.ly/3V8sDNs
KARLSSON, M. (2010). “Rituals of transparency: Evaluating online news outlets’ uses of transparency rituals in the United States, United Kingdom and Sweden”, Journalism Studies, núm. 11(4): 535–545. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616701003638400
KARLSSON, M., & CLERWALL, C. (2018). “Transparency to the Rescue? Evaluating citizens’ views on transparency tools in journalism”, Journalism Studies, núm. 19(13): 1923–1933. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2018.1492882
KARLSSON, M. (2020). “Dispersing the opacity of transparency in journalism on the appeal of different forms of transparency to the general public”, Journalism Studies, núm. 21(3): 1795–1814. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2020.1790028
KOLISKA, M. (2021). “Transparency in Journalism”. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.883
KOLISKA, M. (2022). “Trust and journalistic transparency online”, Journalism Studies, núm. 23(12): 1488–1509. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2022.2102532
KOVACH, B., & ROSENSTIEL, T. (2001). The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect. Crown Publishers.
LASICA, J. D. (2004) ‘‘Transparency Begets Trust in the Ever-expanding Blogosphere’’, Online Journalism Review. http://www.ojr.org/ojr/technology/1092267863.php
LÓPEZ-MARCOS, C., & VICENTE-FERNÁNDEZ, P. (2021). “Fact Checkers facing fake news and disinformation in the digital age: A comparative analysis between Spain and United Kingdom”, Publications, núm. 9(3), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/publications9030036
MEIER, K. (2009). “Transparency in Journalism: Credibility and trustworthiness in the digital future”. II Conference The Future of Journalism, Cardiff, septiembre 2009. http://bit.ly/4mZ8khz
MEIER, K., & REIMER, J. (2011). “Transparenz im Journalismus: Instrumente, Konfliktpotentiale, Wirkung", Publizistik, núm. 56(2): 133–155.
MEIER, W. A., & TRAPPEL, J. (2022). “Media transparency: Comparing how leading news media balance the need for transparency with professional ethics”, in TRAPPEL, J., & TOMAZ, T. (Eds). Success and failure in news media performance: Comparative analysis in the Media for Democracy Monitor. Gothenburg: Nordicom, pp. 255–273.
MIRANDA, J. (2023). Responsabilização e qualidade do jornalismo: Instrumentos e práticas digitais de accountability dos média portugueses. Comunicação e sociedade, núm. 44: 1–24. https://doi.org/10.17231/comsoc.44(2023).4750
MOLINA RODRÍGUEZ-NAVAS, P., MEDRANDA MORALES, N., & MUÑOZ LALINDE, J. (2021). “Transparency for participation through the communication approach”, ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, núm. 10(9): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10090586
MOORE, S. (2018). “Towards a sociology of institutional transparency: Openness, deception and the problem of public trust”, Sociology, núm. 52(2): 416–430. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038516686530
NEWSGUARD (2015). Website Rating Process and Criteria. https://www.newsguardtech.com/ratings/rating-process-criteria/
OBSERVATORIO DE MEDIOS (2025). Metodología. https://observatoriodemedios.org/metodologia/
PALAU-SAMPIO, D., & LÓPEZ-GARCÍA, G. (2025). News, Media, and Communication in a Polarized World: A Spanish Perspective. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-86620-3
PEIFER, J. T., & MEISINGER, J. (2021). “The value of explaining the process: How journalistic transparency and perceptions of news media importance can (sometimes) foster message credibility and engagement intentions”, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, núm. 98(3): 828–853. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990211012953
PÉREZ-DÍAZ, P. L., ZAMORA MEDINA, R., & ARROYAS LANGA, E. (2020). “Between self-regulation and participatory monitoring: comparing digital news media accountability practices in Spain”, Media and Communication, núm. 8(2): 112–123. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v8i2.2721
PICARD, R. G., & PICKARD, V. (2017). Essential principles for contemporary media and communications policymaking. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. http://bit.ly/45vzAOQ
PICKARD, V. (2020). “Restructuring Democratic Infrastructures: A Policy Approach to the Journalism Crisis”, Digital Journalism, núm. 8(6): 704–719. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2020.1733433
PROCHAZKA, F., & OBERMAIER, M. (2022). “Trust through transparency? How journalistic reactions to media-critical user comments affect quality perceptions and behavior intentions”, Digital Journalism, núm. 10(3): 452–472. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2021.2017316
RAMON VEGAS, X., MAURI DE LOS RÍOS, M., & ALCALÁ ANGUIANO, F. (2016). “Transparencia informativa, autorregulación y participación del público: Mural. com, Rue89. com y TexasTribune.0rg”, Comunicación y sociedad, núm. (25): 101–125. https://doi.org/10.32870/cys.v0i25.4423
RENEDO-FARPÓN, C., CANAVILHAS, J., & DÍEZ-GARRIDO, M. (2023). “Transparency mechanisms in the media: analysis of Spain and Portugal”, Profesional de la información, núm. 32(1): e320105. https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2023.ene.05
RUPAR, V. (2006) ‘‘How Did You Find That Out? Transparency of the newsgathering process and the meaning of news’’, Journalism Studies, núm. 7(1): 127–143.
SCHUDSON, M. (1978). Discovering the News: A Social History of American Newspapers. New York, NY: Basic Books.
SCIMAGO (2025). Media Web Reputation Ranking. https://www.scimagomedia.com/rankings.php?media=Newspaper&content=General&edition=2025_02
SINGER, J. B. (2005). "The political j-blogger", Journalism, núm. 6(2): 173–198. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884905051009
SINGER, J. B. (2007) “Contested Autonomy. Professional and popular claims on journalistic norms”, Journalism Studies, núm. 8(1): 79–95. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616700601056866
SMOLKIN, R. (2006). ‘‘Too Transparent?’’, American Journalism Review, núm. 28(2): 16–23,
SPJ, SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS (2014). Code of Ethics. https://www.spj.org/pdf/spj-code-of-ethics.pdf
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL (2016). Good practices to ensure transparency and integrity in media companies. https://knowledgehub.transparency.org/assets/uploads/helpdesk/Good_practices_in_media_transparency_2016.pdf
TRUST PROJECT (2025). The 8 Trust Indicators. https://thetrustproject.org/#indicators
TUCHMAN, G. (1972). “Objectivity as a strategic ritual”, The American Journal of Sociology, núm. 77(4): 660–679.
VILLORIA, M. (2014). “La transparencia como política pública en España: algunas reflexiones”, EUNOMÍA. Revista en Cultura de la Legalidad, núm. 7: 85–103.
VOS, T. P., & CRAFT, S. (2017). “The discursive construction of journalistic transparency”, Journalism studies, núm. 18(12): 1505–1522. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2015.1135754
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Spanish Journal of Transparency
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The Spanish Journal of Transparency is committed to free access and unrestricted use of its information and digital resources. The open access policy is materialized in:
- Free, free and universal access.
- The authors and the Journal grant any potential user the right to use, copy or distribute the content in an unlimited and irrevocable manner, with the sole condition of recognizing the authorship.
- The electronic documents corresponding to the content of the Journal are included in digital format to allow free access.
