Who Owns the News You Trust? Why It Matters for Kamaʻāina
For many kamaʻāina, it’s easy to trust the news without questioning who controls the message.
But if you knew who influences the news you consume, you’d likely look at the headlines—and your own opinions—a little differently.
Behind nearly every major U.S. news network are the same powerful shareholders, with significant investments in Hawaiʻi’s biggest industries.
Once you connect the dots, it changes how you see everything from real estate to energy policy.
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
Why Kamaʻāina Should Care
Media shapes public opinion — and public opinion influences state and county policy. So if the same companies own both your news and the industries they report on, how objective do you think that reporting is?
The biggest institutional shareholder of all three major news networks is also invested in nearly every industry that touches kamaʻāina lives.
Did you know that Vanguard and Blackrock owns significant or major shares in Hawaii's:
Airlines
Alaska Air Group (Hawaiian Airlines’ parent company)
- Vanguard: 13.6 million shares
- BlackRock: 16.6 million shares
Hotels
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc
- Vanguard: 25.1 million shares
- BlackRock: 19.3 million shares
Marriott International
- Vanguard: 20.2 million shares
- BlackRock: 14.9 million shares
Banks
Bank of Hawaii (BOH)
- Vanguard: 4.6 million shares
- BlackRock: 5.8 million shares
First Hawaiian Bank (FHB)
- Vanguard: 14.3 million shares
- BlackRock: 15.9 million shares
Utilities
Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc (NASDAQ: HEI), the parent company of Hawaiian Electric Company (OTCMKTS: HAWLL)
- Vanguard: 17.1 million shares
- BlackRock: 14.7 million shares
Follow the Incentives
If you were a corporation profiting from airlines, hotels, banks, and energy companies in Hawaiʻi, wouldn’t it be smart to also own the channels that shape public opinion about those industries?
This isn’t a conspiracy — it’s a business model.
For kamaʻāina, knowing who owns your news helps you recognize when media narratives might be shaped to protect corporate profits. This is especially important when it comes to stories about:
- Short-term rentals
- Land development
- Housing affordability
- Energy prices
- Tourism management
Know Where Your Information Comes From
This post isn’t about attacking one company. It’s about understanding that for-profit interests shape the news — and that knowledge gives kamaʻāina the power to question, investigate, and think critically.
When we connect the dots between media ownership and the industries that affect our lives, we see Hawaii’s current events more clearly. And with clarity comes better decision-making — for ourselves, our ʻohana, and our future.