media event

American  

noun

1. a celebration, stunt, spectacle, or other activity carefully orchestrated to attract the attention of the news media.

---

media event British  

noun

1. an event that is staged for or exploited by the mass media, whose attention lends it an apparent importance

---

Etymology

Origin of media event

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Derek Chisora arrived at a news conference at London's York Hall in an army tank alongside Nigel Farage, but the politician didn't attend the media event.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

United raved about its free speedy Starlink Wi-Fi at a media event in Los Angeles last week.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

But there are also nooks such as a cave that, while not previewed at a recent media event, will allow visitors to view elephants on their level.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

To start with the familiar: The example I drove at the media event near San Diego last week felt impressively solid and soundly made, with door slams resonating with Honda’s trademark timbre.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

The unveiling in 1926 of a new opera by the last great Italian composer in the genre, Giacomo Puccini, could fairly be described as a media event on a global scale.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall