Dynamics of Publisher Succession in Newspaper Organizations

Glenn R. Carroll This paper explores the effects of succession of the publisher in local newspaper organizations. Unlike much previous research, the analysis simultaneously took into account: (1) the organizational context of the succession event; (2) the timing of succession relative to the organizational life cycle; and (3) the type of transfer undertaken in control structures. Thefindings showthatthe rates of death of newspaper organizations increase following succession of the founder. This finding holds for all types of founder control structures and forms of newspaper organizations. The analysis also shows some weak evidence that succession has its greatest impact when the transfer of control occurs from and between organizations controlled by individuals.