The period centers on media policy as a governance challenge shaped by ownership concentration, regulatory design, and the rise of digital platforms, with research probing how market power and regulatory frameworks affect public-interest broadcasting, competition, and democratic life. The emergence of the Internet as a mass medium reframed policy analyses toward access, control, and governance in the digital information ecosystem, while inquiries into media independence and online discourse underscored the implications of platform-mediated communication for accountability and public deliberation. Historical Significance: Studies of media capture introduced formal models of how political and economic actors can influence media outcomes, informing the development of policy tools to bolster independence and curb capture. Analyses of online civility and the democratic potential of online political discussion groups guided considerations of moderation regimes and design choices for online deliberation, shaping long-term policy discussions about digital public spheres and democratic participation.