Final answer:
Politico's emergence exemplifies media consolidation, where few companies control most media outlets, leading to an oligopoly that could limit public exposure to diverse information. Despite the rise of new media that offers various interactive content, large conglomerates might control these platforms, potentially influencing public discourse.
Step-by-step explanation:
The emergence of the multimedia start-up Politico is an example of media consolidation, which is a process by which fewer and fewer owners control the majority of media outlets. This leads to a situation known as an oligopoly, where a few firms dominate the media marketplace. In this context, companies like Comcast, the Disney Corporation, Time Warner, CBS, and Viacom have substantial control over what is communicated through various channels, potentially affecting the diversity of information and viewpoints available to the public.
Media consolidation can reduce the number of unique voices and opinions in the media landscape, which can influence public discourse by limiting the range of perspectives offered to consumers. This concentration of media ownership has also been paralleled by a rise in new media outlets, which blur the lines between different forms of media, providing content that includes text, pictures, video, and interactive features. Despite this, there is a concern that even new media platforms may come under the purview of larger media conglomerates over time, potentially subjecting them to similar constraints as traditional media.