The term “mainstream media” is often bandied about by pundits and talking heads. However, with the surge of information that has largely risen from the internet, mainstream anything becomes increasingly hard to define.

Just yesterday, while listening to Rush Limbaugh, I heard him comment on the “mainstream media” with the implication that he was not part of such an entity. I was surprised by this considering he is one of the most listened to media sources in the nation. Of course, this got me to thinking about what exactly is the mainstream media and thus, this debate.

Questions to debate:

Is the concept of the ‘mainstream media’ a myth?

If you believe it is a myth, why is such a myth perpetuated?

If you do not believe it is a myth, what are the core defining features of the ‘mainstream media’?

I think Rush's own narrow definition of the mainstream media is anyone that doesn't agree with him

But seriously I think he lumps the big networks(ABC,CBS,NBC), cable news networks and large newspaper publications as the mainstream media.

I think it is a legitimate term. You may see the internet included in there one day. But for now most of the mainstream media is a "push" technology while the internet is a "pull" technology. Push meaning they put something out and you can consume if you like. Pull meaning you look for the specific information or news you are searching for. Alot harder to push an agenda in the later.

Is the concept of the ‘mainstream media’ a myth?
It is a truth that is rapidly losing value. Back in the 60s, it was an absolute truth. There were three television news networks and a large collection of newspapers. There were high barriers to entry and so these news sources enjoyed something short of a monopoly. They truly did control the national perceptions, and so when Walter Cronkite told the nation that he no longer believed that the Vietnam war was a good idea, it had huge political implications.

But with the explosion of news sources, what was once a mainstream has been fragmented into a thousand tiny channels. There are now five major TV news sources, and PBS provides some additional information. There are dozens of cable channels that provide some specialized window into the world of politics.

But the internet has blown everything to smithereens. The consumer can now pick and choose his news to suit his political tastes. Interestingly, newspapers have moved in the opposite direction with the consolidation of local newspapers into large conglomerations. One more sign that newspapers are out of touch with the currents of history.

"Mainstream media" still has some truth in it, but it is a rapidly-hollowing shell.

If you believe it is a myth, why is such a myth perpetuated?
Everybody loves a faceless social force to on which to blame the evils of the world: the military-industrial complex, the Comintern, faceless multinational corporations, the liberal media, the vast right-wing conspiracy. My particular favorite is "orbiting mind control lasers" (with a tip of the hat to Steve).

If you do not believe it is a myth, what are the core defining features of the ‘mainstream media’?
The attempt to find a "common denominator" viewpoint for news that pleases everybody. You can please all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of time.

I think the "mainstream media" is a term used to describe what used to be just about the only media: broadcast network news, large well-circulated newspapers, and (more recently) cable news channels.

When used in this sense, the "mainstream media" is still around. The New York Times still sells newspapers and Tom Brokaw is still doing the nightly news.

Of course, as time progresses, the importance of the mainstream media is waning. They no longer have a monopoly on the information business anymore. They are not the only source of news anymore, although they remain important.

So it is not a myth, but a term that is losing its relevance.

Slight correction. Tom Brokaw has followed Dan Rather into retiring from the anchor chair. Brian Williams is the new NBC anchor. Brokaw still works for NBC and sometimes appears on the network's cable outlet MSNBC.

NBC, MSNBC and CNBC are all owned by General Electric. So, the cable outlets must also be mainstream.

Yes and No. There really are mainstream media in this country. It's not a concept, it's a reality. You can talk about the mainstream media and make observations that are mostly true, today. The thing that is mythical about it, is exactly as Erasmussimo says. Those that usually invoke the 'mainstream media' as having this-or-that-bias, or this-or-that-agenda, or this-or-that-characteristic, talk about the media as they were 30 years ago. The mainstream media are more diverse, and more in number, but conversely owned by less entities today.

Here's an example of a mythical mainstream media concept:
"The mainstream media and their allies in the Democratic Party all feel put-upon." - Rush Limbaugh

Here's an example of a non-mythical mainstream media concept:
"News networks, you know, they have this idea that they're being objective. But news has never been objective. It's always 'Our top stories tonight.' That's a list … that's a subjective… some editor made a decision: 'Here's our top stories. #1: There's a fire in the Bronx. #2: They arrested Martha Stewart.'" - Jon Stewart



The mythical portion of the media myth is usually invoked in order to paint a picture of the media that supports the invoker's position. The problem with this is that the collective invokee (i.e. 'the mainstream media') includes Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Fox News Channel, the New York Times, dailykos.com and Michael Moore.

(As an aside, I'd just like to mention that only one entity in the preceding sentence consistently presents a diversity of political views. It is also the one which is invoked most often when referring to a "liberal media!" ... )



Nowadays, Fox News Channel is part of it. Michael Moore is part of it. Rush Limbaugh is part of it. I don't think many or any bloggers are a part of it. IMO, anything that reaches more than several million readers/viewers/listeners in every state of the US, is part of the USA's 'mainstream media.'

When Limbaugh speaks about the 'mainstream media' as "them," the unintended irony is astounding.