Mainstream media

Overview
The term "mainstream media" (often abbreviated "MSM") generally refers to the most popular conventional sources of factual (non-fiction) news and discussion, i.e. television and print media (newspapers and magazines). It also refers to any information published, via whatever media, by companies whose primary business is one or more of those traditional media.

The term appears to be more intensively used in the United States, where the largest media companies are privately-owned and have no significant competition from government-run services or from each other – and, unfortunately, very little accountability as to the accuracy of those views.

Pages

 * Distortion in the mainstream media are particularly harmful.
 * instances of mainstream media distortion
 * media consolidation

Companies
this is a partial list

Broadcast

 * CNN (site): cable TV, web
 * Fox News: broadcast TV
 * NBC / MSNBC

Content Creation

 * Associated Press writes news articles which are widely syndicated
 * Reuters

Print

 * The New York Times
 * The Wall Street Journal
 * The Washington Post
 * The Washington Times (aka The Moonie Times)

Non-US

 * German license-funded TV

Reference

 * sees the revocation of the fairness doctrine and the beginning of Rush Limbaugh's radio career as the two main events in the history of the MSM; also, there is apparently a "leftist news" where writers are only allowed to write what they are told (as opposed to Conservapedia, where you just get reverted or banned if you write anything they don't like)
 * : no equivalent page (as of 2009-02-13); see Media.
 * : no equivalent page (as of 2009-02-13); see Media.