Competition Among Mass Media and the Public Interest

Abstract

COMPETITION in newspaper publishing has declined noticably since 1910,1 and a few giant producers and theater owners still dominate the motion picture industry.2 It has been hoped that the growth of radio and television would provide alternative outlets for expression, especially in those communities with only one newspaper or one movie theater.3 The entry of newspapers into the field of radio and the more recent entry of movie producers and theater owners into television have, however, dimmed these hopes. On January 1 of this year, about 19 per cent of all standard stations, 33 per cent of FM stations, and 37 per cent of television outlets were affiliated With newspapers.4 Though only about 20 radio-TV stations are actually run by the movie industry today, a far more extensive marriage seems pending.5