Abstract
The economics of the newspaper industry has concentrated in the hands of a few monopolists and chain owners the power to inform and to influence public opinion. The threat to freedom of expression posed by newspaper chain ownership and monopoly is examined with the possible application of antitrust law to foster open and competitive newspaper markets. Recognizing newspaper concentration more adversely affects ideas than the economic marketplace, weight is given to social and political factors in determining anticompetitive market constraints. Extensive newspaper consolidation, it is argued, inhibits new entry and decreases editorial independence and diversity.
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