The article discusses the evolution of media ownership in the U.S., particularly in light of Ben Bagdikian’s 1983 book, “The Media Monopoly.” Initially reporting 50 corporations controlling the media, that number dropped to 20 by 2011. Today, with digital technology’s rise, more than half of U.S. news site visits (approximately 25.5 billion out of 45.6 billion) are dominated by just seven families or corporate entities, including the Ochs-Sulzberger family (New York Times) and the Murdoch family (News Corp, Fox).
The article outlines the substantial influence of these families and corporations on U.S. news, indicating a continued media oligarchy despite the internet’s promise for democratization. The inclusion of private equity firms in media ownership raises concerns about profit motives overshadowing journalistic integrity. The piece points out the troubling lack of public discourse surrounding media concentration and suggests a need for organizing efforts to confront these issues, echoing historical warnings about media consolidation’s threat to democracy.
