Final answer:
The biggest motivation of a privately owned media source is profit, which can affect their coverage of political issues through prioritizing advertisers, seeking sensationalized content, and reflecting the biases of owners and investors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The biggest motivation of a media source that is privately owned is typically profit. Privately owned media companies are businesses that need to generate revenue to sustain themselves. This motivation can affect the source's coverage of political issues in several ways.
Firstly, media outlets often rely on advertising as a main source of revenue. This can lead them to prioritize stories and viewpoints that align with the interests of their advertisers, potentially influencing their coverage of political issues.
Secondly, privately owned media sources strive to attract the largest audiences possible. If sensationalized conflict and conspiracy theories attract more viewers or readers, media outlets may be tempted to focus on these topics rather than providing balanced and informative coverage of political issues.
Lastly, media companies may also be influenced by the personal biases or agendas of their owners and investors. These individuals may have their own political beliefs or affiliations that can shape the media source's coverage of political issues.