We’ve all played the game Monopoly, in which you try to dominate the entire board.The media industry, on the other hand, is considered an oligopoly, which is when a small number of companies owns a large number of media outlets. This causes fewer opportunities for unique ideas to be generated, which causes less diversity in the media.

The conglomeration of media allows corporations to promote their own products without the public’s awareness. With the media being owned by few major conglomerates, problems have a risen through various forms of biases ◦Bias of Inclusion ◦Bias of Revision◦Bias of Omission

Coverage in the news that favors the parent company of the channel. This includes crosspromotion, which is when a media conglomerate promotes its productonits various other subsidiaries. ◦For example, a Disney movie was promoted on ABC, ABCFamily, and ESPN–

 A media outlet leaves out part of the news story that can damage the parent company. }Last summer, when the scandal with Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation surfaced, it was found that covered the scandal much less than other stations. Is owned by News Corporation. Coincidence?

In order to appropriately gauge the various bias found in the media, one must become media literate. Diversify where you get your news. This will allow you to spot what biases are found on various channels. It is important to know which outlets are owned by whom, which will over all allow you to see messages that may be included or excluded based on outlet sowned by the same parent company. In order to become media literate, you must become aware.