Final answer:
The dominance of newspaper chains can decrease the diversity of news sources, leading to homogenization of coverage and potentially resulting in less investigative reporting and a narrower range of viewpoints.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dominance of newspaper chains can lead to decreased diversity of news sources. As the number of independent newspapers declines, often due to being acquired by larger conglomerates, the variety of perspectives and stories told also diminishes. This phenomenon is partly due to the homogenization process where different news outlets provide similar coverage on stories, which limits the range of narratives and viewpoints available to the public. This can result in a narrow focus on certain topics or regions and could lead to less thorough and investigative reporting.
Moreover, this consolidation process might not always bring about unbiased reporting; as media outlets may aim to cater to specific consumer preferences, which can lead to slanted coverage aligning with particular political or ideological viewpoints. The shift towards online platforms has made it easier for individuals to seek out news that conforms to their existing beliefs, leading to further fragmentation and polarization in the news consumption habits of the public.