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The Impact of Family Determinants on the Media Coverage of Family Business Activism in Sustainability

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  • Gianluca Ginesti
  • Mario Ossorio

Abstract

Media coverage is a key factor in increasing the flow and accessibility of information among the firm's stakeholders. Drawing on the socioemotional wealth (SEW) perspective, we investigate the antecedents of the level of media coverage of family firms' activism in sustainability. Using hand‐collected data from a sample of public Italian family firms, we provide several novel contributions to the academic debate. First, we find that family involvement on the board of directors is negatively associated with the level of media coverage of the family firm's engagement in sustainability. Conversely, we find that later generational stages of the family business are positively associated with the level of corporate media coverage on sustainability. Our study advances the literature on both corporate sustainability issues and media coverage in the context of family businesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Gianluca Ginesti & Mario Ossorio, 2025. "The Impact of Family Determinants on the Media Coverage of Family Business Activism in Sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 2835-2847, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:34:y:2025:i:3:p:2835-2847
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.4106
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    2. Muhammad Kamal Subhani & Marie Mikušová & Lech Nierostek, 2026. "Intergenerational dynamics in Pakistani family businesses: an integrated framework for sustainable succession," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, December.

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