American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

News reporting is shaped not only by journalistic practices but also by the institutional and ideological environments in which media organisations operate. While earlier scholarships have examined news sources in relation to media use, cultural practices, political influence, and specific cases, comparatively less attention has been given to how ownership structures affect the selection and representation of news sources. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between media ownership, ideological orientation, and source selection through a comparative analysis of Marxist and libertarian media systems. Mongolia and China offer a valuable comparative setting because of their contrasting political structures and media environments. The study examines a selected daily newspaper from Mongolia, representing a comparatively liberal and market-oriented press environment, alongside a Chinese daily newspaper operating within a state-oriented Marxist media framework. The comparison focuses on the diversity, prominence, and orientation of sources used in news coverage. The findings indicate clear differences in sourcing practices between the two media systems. The Mongolian newspaper demonstrates greater diversity of sources, with comparatively broader representation of public, institutional, and independent voices. In contrast, the Chinese newspaper relies more heavily on government officials, state institutions, and other authorised sources, resulting in a narrower source structure. Overall, the study suggests that media ownership and ideological frameworks play an important role in determining whose perspectives enter news discourse and how information is presented to audiences.

Keywords: Media Ownership; News Source Selection; Libertarian Press; Marxist Media; Ideological Orientation; Government Sources; News Discourse; Media Systems.