mass media versus media

[learning54]

Hi teachers,
‘Oh, I know that,’ Marta said. The newspapers said that. But newspapers and the television never tell us the true story. Alex Dinon isn’t a murderer. He’s a nice young man.’

Which one is right?
a) What did Marta say about the mass media?
b) What did Marta say about the media?
They never told them the true story.

[bhaisahab]

Hi teachers,
‘Oh, I know that,’ Marta said. The newspapers said that. But newspapers and the television never tell us the true story. Alex Dinon isn’t a murderer. He’s a nice young man.’

Which one is right?
a) What did Marta say about the mass media?
b) What did Marta say about the media?
They never told them the true story.

You could use either.

[BobK]

I think the term 'mass media' became popular in the sixties. An academic book might have a print run of a few thousand at most, that would sell out over three or four years. A popular newspaper (in the UK - the US situation would be that much bigger) would have a print run of tens of thousands, selling out in a day. A book is a medium; publishing books is a media enterprise. But in the last - say - 50 years it's become common for a media enterprise (newspapers, film, TV) to cater for millions; that sort of media is 'mass media'. That's a strict interpretation though.

In real life, now, either works - as bhai said.

b