Deconstructing the diversity principle

This article presents an examination of the diversity principle in communic ations policy. Given the Federal Communication Commission's recent emphasis on diversity as a policy objective, diversity assessments must return to t he forefront of communications policy analysis. To provide an analytical fr amework for such research, the diversify principle is broken into three dis tinct components (source, content, and exposure diversity), and multiple su bcomponents. In the spirit of the FCC's empirical commitment to the diversi ty principle, this analysis focuses on diversity as a measurable concept, w ith potentially interacting dimensions and numerous means of assessment.