Media power is political power. Berlusconi is the prime minister of Italy and the owner of the dominant media outlets in the country. He can control his image in the press as few people can.
Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York, is the very successful owner of Bloomberg Media and he also has the advantage of a significant media outlet although there is more media competition in the United States.
It is hard to control the political benefit of media power without interfering with our cherished freedom of the press.
Critics have accused Rupert Murdoch of printing several similar editorials making the case for the war in Iraq in his 160 plus newspaper outlets. It is reminiscent of Randolph Hurst using his newpapers to influence the call to the Spanish American War.
Tips to Mark Deuze in the media department at Indiana University.
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