Final answer:
Media consolidation is the process where a decreasing number of corporations control most media outlets in the U.S., leading to a potential limitation on the diversity of viewpoints and raising concerns about the independence of the media.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question addresses the concept of media consolidation, which refers to the phenomenon where fewer corporations control a majority of the media in the United States, emphasizing cross-ownership across different media platforms such as newspapers, radio, TV, cable, and internet services. In the 1980s, over fifty companies owned the majority of media outlets, but by 2021, this number shrank to just four conglomerates holding the same market share. These conglomerates, which include names like Comcast and The Walt Disney Company, form an oligopoly that dominates the media landscape, impacting the diversity of viewpoints and potentially limiting public discourse to the perspectives shared by these few entities. These changes in media ownership also raise concerns about the independence of the media and whether corporate interests may now override the impartial delivery of information to the public.