Slow On the Uptake

Posted on 07/22/2008 at 8:51 am by Bob Cesca

For quite some time now, Markos has been vocal about referring to the press as “the traditional media,” as opposed to “mainstream media” or MSM. Evidently the NY Times is just now catching up.

Here’s the dynamic: at this point, the far-right bloggers are using the abbreviation “MSM” and most liberal bloggers are using all sorts of names to describe the press. Markos uses “traditional media,” but with all due respect this frame is still too positive-sounding. I’ve picked up on the use of “corporate media,” which I think has more appropriate connotations without sounding too snarky or obnoxious.

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  • http://unrelatedcontent.com Travis Disaster

    I like “corporate media”, it really sums up the overall tone of what you see on CNN and MSNBC. Also, it should be noted that Markos is far less radical/liberal/whatever than most people think. He practically made out with Harold Ford at Netroots.

  • CMiner

    I like to think of the traditional media as MMSM or the moronic mainstream media. That phrase jumps to mind more frequently the longer I watch/read them as they cannot connect dots or follow up intelligently on anything that’s pitched to them. However, I think corporate media probably says it best.

  • http://dansolomon.com dansolomon

    I prefer “traditional media” specifically because it’s -not- a loaded term, and can therefore be used in a conversation with anyone. Starting from the position that the media is bad (which is what MSM means now, through repetition, and certainly what a thinking person would get from “corporate media”) means that anyone who doesn’t share that opinion is going to tune you out as unfair from the get-go. Which is unfortunate if the goal is to get people to consider the real problems with traditional media.–d

  • ceu

    I like MSM because it’s short and easy to type. So if you can come up with a decent acronym for corporate media or traditional media I’ll happily change but CM and TM just ain’t cutting it for me.

  • Bob_Cesca

    But CM is way easier to type than MSM. It’s one letter faster.

  • ceu

    But CM also means Cindy McCain… But I’m willing to give it a shot :)

  • natashacrk

    Corporate Media is perfect! I still love Keith Olbermann, I need him like a drug!