Final answer:
The count of U.S. cities with more than one independent, competing newspaper is volatile and can be best determined by consulting updated sources from the journalism or media industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of cities in the United States with more than one independent, competing newspaper has decreased significantly over the years due to media consolidation, the rise of the internet, and economic challenges within the newspaper industry. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, the exact number of such cities may fluctuate. Therefore, it's recommended to check the latest data from reliable journalism or media industry sources to find the current count.In these cities, multiple newspapers provide different perspectives on news and engage in competition to attract readers and advertisers.