Why Might Ownership of the UK Press be a Cause for Concern?

United Kingdom has a concentrated press ownership like several other developed countries in Europe and the United States. About 281 owners own the 1608 newspapers and 1,971 magazines published in the UK. However, large media interests that control several publications own a vast majority of the most influential print media brands with the largest circulation. Thus, debates about the ownership of the print media in the UK are nothing new because the concentrated ownership has existed since the early 1900s.Concentrated media ownership is not desirable in a democracy because it is possible for such ownership to compromise pluralism and diversity. Competition can stifle new brands or drive such brands out of business. It becomes difficult to create efficient markets for media brands, and the advertising offered as a service. This essay presents a discussion about the concerns arising out of print media ownership in the UK.