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The owners of newspapers can influence the editorial stance of a newspaper.

The motives and agendas of newspaper owners and editors, and how they try to influence our understanding of certain events, is important when analysing how newspapers tell stories.

Newspapers will also attempt to influence how the public vote in elections, with certain newspapers openly backing specific political parties.

Who owns the main UK national newspapers?

• The Sun, The Times and The Sun on Sunday are owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.
• The Independent, the i, and The Independent on Sunday are owned by Alexander Lebedev's Independent Print Limited. The Independent is now online only.
• The Guardian and The Observer are owned by Scott Trust Limited.
• The Daily Mirror, The Sunday Mirror, and The People are owned by Trinity Mirror plc.
• The Daily Express, The Sunday Express, The Daily Star and The Daily Star on Sunday are owned by Richard Desmond's Northern and Shell.
• The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, are owned by the Barclay Brothers' Press Holdings.
• The Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday are owned by Lord Rothermere's Daily Mail and General Trust plc.

Regulation

Sometimes it is not facts that are reported but the opinions of journalists and editors.

This is known as bias.

This is one of the reasons why newspapers are subject to regulation.

Case study: The Leveson Inquiry

The Leveson Inquiry was a public, judge-led inquiry.

It was set up by Prime Minister David Cameron to investigate the press after journalists at the The News of the World were accused of illegally accessing the voicemail messages on other people's phones, without their knowledge or consent.

They were also accused of bribing police officers.

Some of those who had their mobile phones 'hacked' into in this way were celebrities, sports people and politicians.

The News of the World was closed down by its owner, News International, when this information became public.

Lord Justice Leveson, on the evidence presented at the Leveson inquiry, stated his recommendations on how the press should be regulated. They were:

• Newspapers should continue to be self-regulated and government should have no power over what newspapers publish.
• A new press standards organisation, with a new code of conduct should be created by the press industry. Legislation should be provided to ensure this new press standards organisation would be independent and effective in dealing with public complaints.

Who regulates newspapers now?

Newspaper editors must follow the rules of the Editor's Code of Practice.

Before the Leveson inquiry, newspapers and their editors were regulated by the Press Complaints Commission (PCC).

After the Leveson Inquiry it was replaced by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).

The IPSO now investigate complaints about breaches of the Editor's Code of Practice.