After studying this chapter, you will be able to:

1. Describe how the media developed as a private industry in the United States from the colonial period to the present day.

2. Summarize how control of the media industry has changed from the 1950s to the present day.

3. Define what is meant by media synergy and illustrate it with at least three examples.

4. Explain why Apple, Google, and other tech companies may also be considered leading media companies.

5. Describe the concept of long-tail media and its implications for the future of the media industry.

6. Identify six groups that influence how the media behave and what content they present.