When alternative newspapers become corporate owned, what happens?

Independent media is about exposing the truth. Alternative newspapers take the news that mainstream media does not think is important or is not willing to expose and reports on it. These independent media outlets are the ones that do the "real" investigative reporting because they don't have anyone to answer to, the don't have the government or corporate owners to please. But what happens when a mainstream corporations buys out these alternatives?

In 2005, the LA Weekly was acquired by New Times Media. The LA Weekly was an alternative newspaper that was "truly great among alternative weeklies, with news coverage and political writing that towered above its counterparts." During its thirty years, The LA Weekly grew to be one of the largest alternative newspapers in the west, with 200 pages and a circulation of 208,000.

During its time as an independent media outlet, the Weekly would cover world issues in every issue, it used to send its writers out into the world to gather news and expose anything that was going on.  It was a true representation of what journalism should be about.

After being acquired by New Times Media, the LA Weekly became not only localized, but when covering issues, it no longer had that "alternative" feel to it. The truth was not being exposed, but it was more mainstream news used to please the people at the top. They no longer wrote articles about the seriousness of the issues in Iraq, but the "issues" going on in Beverly Hills because they believed the people would be just as interested in this type of news. This, however, is not what independent journalism is all about. 

Along with covering different kinds of stories, the paper shifted from the left to the right after being acquired. Instead of covering stories that expose serious truths about corruption in government, expose public officials, what is going on in the world, etc., they now cover "investigative hit pieces that target local bigwigs," a favored story of New Times Media. Where before it was a great source for real news, it became a backbone for stories favored by their owners. They began to report to the standards and views of their bosses, not tell the stories from an independent point of view.

Many of the people that stayed after the paper was acquired were slowly outed. Many left, but some stayed.

This example shows how an independent news outlet, that when taken over by a corporation, was not able to stay independent. This shows the importance of independent media and the reasons to stay independent. By being independent, you are allowed to write anything (within reason) without worrying about consequences for exposing the truth. When independent media outlets are taken over, the risk of them no longer being independent is very high.

This is why people worry about the integrity of those such as the Huffington Post after it sold out to AOL.

When you are part of the corporate mainstream media, you no longer have the freedom and independence to expose the truth. You are no longer considered alternative because you are no longer an alternative, true source for the news. You are no longer providing stories that the mainstream does not want to or is not allowed to cover in fear of losing funding. With independent media sources, many rely on their readers for support for this reason: being able to stay independent and continue to give voices to the voiceless.

If any independent media outlet is acquired by a mainstream media outlet, it is reasonable for the fear of a type of corruption to happen, a loss of trustworthiness and the hope for full truth.