mainstream media

American  

[meyn-streem mee-dee-uh] / ˈmeɪnˌstrim ˈmi di ə /

noun

(usually used with a plural verb)

1. the traditional forms of mass media, as television, radio, magazines, and newspapers, as opposed to online means of mass communication. MSM

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Etymology

Origin of mainstream media

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Weiss built her brand at The Free Press as a contrarian voice fluent in the grievances of people who believe mainstream media has become too liberal.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

What it says about America: Cable television created global superstars while breaking racial barriers in mainstream media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

Mr Poirson-Atlan told the court on Tuesday that he was a "satirist" who had just wished to put forward "a point of view different to that of the mainstream media".

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2025

And mainstream media is beginning to notice what Dropout is creating: The latest season of “Saturday Night Live” has Jeremy Culhane, a Dropout regular, joining the main cast.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2025

What is more problematic, though, is that hardly anyone in the mainstream media noticed the oversight.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander