Which entity owns most of the television stations, radio stations, and newspapers in the United States?

a. private companies

b. the federal government

c. nonprofit organizations

d. religious institutions

A. Private companies--most of the media sources in the US are owned by private companies or individuals.

The US has freedom of the press which means the government has no ownership or stake in media sources. As a democracy, citizens rely on the fair reporting of private media sources to reveal issues within the country in particular the government. However, being private they are also for-profit organizations which means big headlines makes a media source more money for the company.

It would be "a. private companies" that own most of the television stations, radio stations, and newspapers in the United States, since these sources of information are thought to need "distance" from the federal government to ensure fairness.