Media in the United States has taken multiple forms and grown in power due to its for-profit nature.
Broadcasting media has been regulated since the 1920s to ensure balanced and fair coverage, along with coverage of relevant, local issues.
Media consolidation has resulted in fewer companies owning more media sources, thereby increasing the concentration of ownership.
While local news is still available, it is becoming increasingly nationalized and local outlets are being purchased larger, national networks.
Agenda-setting is a psychological process whereby the media continuously covers an issue so viewers think its a top-priority issue.
Adversarial journalism, or gotcha journalism, seeks to reveal wrongdoings of public officials through a variety of premeditated methods.