Please, everyone, stop saying "MSM"...!

[regnaD kciN]

It's a classic way of the wrong way to frame something.

First off, most people won't get past the acronym and stop reading right there. Worse, however, are those who actually investigate enough to find out that it stands for "mainstream media." The problem is that "mainstream," for most people, is a good thing. Reliable. Common-Sense. Rational. Calm. Middle-of-the-road. All of them good attributes for most people.

When such people hear us blaming the "mainstream media," they'll be quick to conclude that liberals have a problem with the "mainstream" -- in other words, that we're extremists who can't handle "the way things actually are," or a bunch of conspiracy theorists, or worse. To attack the "mainstream media" for being biased against us is tantamount, for most people, to admitting that we are out of touch with reality, and living in a fantasy world.

Think about the framings: conservatives have long attacked the "liberal media." We, in our turn, attack the "mainstream media." Hello? What's wrong with this picture?

So, if you want us to win the framing issue on this, please find some term, any term, other than "mainstream media" or MSM. The obvious choice would be "conservative media," but that seems a bit too much like simply mirror-imaging the right's "liberal media" label. Better yet, IMHO, is a term suggested by someone here a few weeks ago: "media cartel." It hits all the right notes in suggesting that said cartel is a small, restrictive in-group, designed to manipulate us. "Cartel" already has a negative connotation from the OPEC "oil cartel" of a group that doesn't have our best interest at heart, and is only interested in what they can take from us. In my opinion, it would be nuts to go with anything other than "media cartel," but most especially with any framing that would credit the media with being "mainstream."

[LSdemocrat]

1. I'd also suggest "corporate media"

[BanzaiBonnie]

5. I've been trying to use Corporate Media

whenever I can.

It's because they're bought and sold.

[mattclearing]

6. I prefer corporate media, and it gets a better reaction I find.

People everywhere are concerned about media concentration, and this doesn't paint one as necessarily wacky.

[kcass1954]

7. I have a personal preference for "corporate-controlled media." n/t

[aquart]

9. CCM

[John Q. Citizen]

8. I like corporate media but media cartel is good to - interchangeable.

[KharmaTrain]

17. Worked It And Called It That Then, Still Do Now

Corporate Media...it is!

And always had Conservative owners.

[Babel_17]

20. Yup

I've been using that term for a while.

It's about the news divisions of these corporate empires being handled as though their primary function is to generate profit. So they end up following the "entertainment" model.

Investigative journalism costs money. So wave bye-bye to that.

It gets less obvious when you dig into it but it is a logical progression.

Corporations provide advertising revenue and we know who's agenda they mostly prefer.

Fundamentalists/Bushists have very strong lobbying groups and make their influence felt on many levels. They use lobbying better than democrats.

Upper management exerts more influence than ever and their political affiliations turn the stereotype of "liberal media" into a laughable proposition.

Consider the salaries of the most influential talking heads and senior editors.

How much money has the Bush tax cuts put into their pockets?

Tim Russert should have that number emblazoned beneath his head every time he talks to a Bushco official.

[Liberty Belle]

2. Kick! "media cartel" is perfect.

[Elidor]

3. MSM is a cream, like capzaicin

For pain.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Media cartel is good

It evokes images of a mafia of sorts.

[WilliamPitt]

10. Can we say it here?

I type 'MSM' so I don't have to type out 'mainstream news media.' But I don't write articles or talk to people and say, "Damn, did you hear what the freakin' MSM did today?" They'd think I was talking about the stock market or something.

But I don't wanna type out mainstream news media all the time, so I'm just gonna keep using MSM around here.

[regnaD kciN]

11. Why not simply type "MC" instead...?

I know, I know...it'd sound too much like hip-hop. ;-)

The problem is that this isn't a closed board. The terms we use here get seen by others, and sometimes what we type gets quoted elsewhere by people without the best intentions.

Besides, there's a natural tendency to take shortcuts, and I think it would be hard for people to continually use "MSM" here and not echo it wherever else they go.

So how about "corporate media" (CM) instead? Or, "corporate-controlled media" (CCM)? Any of them at least frame the issue to our advantage.

[WilliamPitt]

12. You think people will know CCM but won't know MSM?

[tavalon]

16. You know, you're right

We've really got to get better at this framing stuff.

[tavalon]

15. But you can shorten both of the best selections easily

Sure, for awhile, we'll have to say Corporate Media or Media Cartel but after awhile, CM and MC will be used. And, hey, it's only two letters!

[UdoKier]

13. I agree with corporate media.

Or maybe the media-military-industrial-complex.

[gumby]

14. MSM seen as a positive.

"MSM" is widely used now. This is a good thing. Even the MSM is using "MSM."

Perceptions about the media and the words used to describe it are going through a major change. Before the recent adoption of MSM, the phrase was "Liberal Media."

"Liberal" didn't become a 4-letter word overnight. For now, MSM seems to be a transition away from "liberal media." As the MSM becomes less and less trusted, better words, like "corporate media" or "media cartel" will find their way into common usage. It seems that "MSM" is starting this trend.

[ConcernedCanuk]

18. I, for one, fit into the niche one of those that "investigated" - -

.
.
.

AS I explained in a previous post , it occourred to me that Media Spin Machine would be a more accurate "translation" if you will of MSM

I also noted that in the list of 47; yup Forty-Seven common uses for the Acronym of MSM was

Men Seeking Men :silly:

So, this MSM useage in some peoples' minds must be causing enormous confusion,

or hilarity at least - :bounce:

Carry on Acronym lovers,

I'll take the extra 3 seconds to type Main Stream Media if that's what I'm talking about!

For the curious:
the rest of the common interpretations of MSM > > >

[dutchdoctor]

19. How about White House Whore Media (WHWM)?

or would that just be Jeff Gannon?

[Pepperbelly]

21. celebrity media ... lazy and corrupt ... nt