Mainstream Media

In an age of increasing information sources, the mainstream media remain extremely powerful. Mainstream media consist of those media channels that are the most powerful, reach the widest audience, and help shape the core discourse across society. These channels span media types to include television networks, newspapers, magazines, and Internet sites.

There remains some debate about what constitutes the mainstream media. For example, some do not consider Fox News to be part of the mainstream media because of its conservative slant, and some Fox commentators themselves criticize the mainstream media. Yet others argue that Fox News should be considered part of the mainstream media, given that its viewership has at times exceeded that of any other basic cable channel (including the other 24-hour news channels). Media ...