Media distribution

Media can be effectively silenced by limiting their circulation. Free speech does one little good if no-one can hear what you say.

Aware of this, many countries have laws ensuring even pricing for the distribution of media across small and large retailers, e.g. small newsagents and supermarkets. This is so larger traders cannot price smaller ones out of the market to further their own and other large business' interests by becoming the sole distributors of media, giving them considerable leverage against the free editorial wishes of the distributed publications. Consequently there is and has been considerable effort to "open up" this market.

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 * Censorship