Which statement about the effect of media ownership concentration is most accurate?

• A. It increases diversity of viewpoints.
• B. It has no effect on agenda-setting.
• C. It reduces diversity and influences framing in favor of owners.
• D. It only affects print media.

Answer: (C)

Concentration of media ownership matters because who controls the outlets helps decide what gets covered and how it’s presented. When a small number of owners control most of the media, there are fewer independent voices and a narrower range of perspectives in the information people receive. This makes it more likely that the topics chosen, the prominence given to them, and the framing of stories reflect the owners’ interests rather than a broad public-interest vantage point. The idea that media influence works through agenda-setting and framing means owners can steer which issues rise to prominence and how they are portrayed through story selection, placement, and language. And this influence isn’t limited to print—broadcast and digital platforms integrated under the same ownership carry the same incentives and patterns. So the statement that best fits this dynamic is that ownership concentration reduces diversity and influences framing in ways that align with owners.