For many kamaʻāina, it’s easy to trust the headlines without questioning who’s behind them.
It’s always wise to know the economic biases on your daily information.
The truth will surprise you—and it matters more than you think.
Who Owns the Big Influencers?
Fox News
Fox News Channel is owned by Fox Corp (NASDAQ: FOX).
Fox Corp’s two largest institutional shareholders are:
Vanguard Group Inc: 13.9 million shares
BlackRock (NYSE:BLK): 12.3 million shares
Vanguard Group Inc is the largest shareholder of BlackRock.
CNN
CNN is owned by Warner Bros Discovery Inc (NASDAQ: WBD).
Warner Bros Discovery Inc’s two largest institutional shareholders are:
Vanguard Group Inc: 251 million shares
BlackRock (NYSE:BLK): 167 million shares
Vanguard Group Inc is the largest shareholder of BlackRock.
MSNBC
MSNBC is owned by Comcast Corp (NASDAQ: CMCSA).
Comcast’s two largest institutional shareholders are:
Vanguard Group Inc: 371 million shares
BlackRock (NYSE:BLK): 302.6 million shares
Do I have to keep telling you who owns Blackrock?
* Stock holdings reported as of Sep 30, 2024
How This Directly Affects You As Kamaʻāina
State and County policies addressing local issues are shaped by public opinion, which the media plays a significant role in forming.
Understanding that corporations influence and control the information you consume helps you to ask critical questions about how issues are covered or if they are covered at all.
For example, Vanguard Group Inc is not only the largest institutional shareholder of these news channels but is also heavily invested in Hawaii’s tourism, real estate, banking, and energy industries.
Did you know that Vanguard Group Inc and Blackrock also own…
…Significant (13.6 million and 16.6 million) shares of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines.
…Significant amounts of stock (20.2 million & 14.9 million) in Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) and (25.1 million & 19.3 million) in Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: HLT).
…The major shares (4.6 million & 5.8 million) of Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH).
…The major shares (14.3 million & 15.9 million) of First Hawaiian Bank (FHB).
…Is one of the largest institutional stock holders (17.1 million & 14.7 million) of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc (NASDAQ: HEI), the parent company of Hawaiian Electric Company (OTCMKTS: HAWLL).
Can you think of why it would be advantageous to own the news channels that influence public opinion of the billion dollar industries they own?
For kamaʻāina, understanding these connections is key to identifying how economic profits might color media narratives—particularly on issues like land development, short-term rentals, or affordable housing.
Know Where Your Information Comes From
My overall point isn’t to call out one particular company but to inform kamaʻāina that there are for-profit influences on the integrity of your daily information.
When we as kamaʻāina connect the dots between corporate influence and local issues, we gain a deeper understanding of how corporate interests intersect with our lives—and are better equipped to make wiser informed decisions.