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Controversy exists over the meaning and definition of the terms '''Mainstream Media''' or '''MSM'''.  Some consider the '''mainstream media''' to consist primarily of those media organs that existed in the [[United States of America]] prior to 1987, and especially any of those media organs that continue to exist today.  Others take a view that the term 'mainstream', no matter the context, simply refers to 'that which is most popular'.

Controversy exists over the meaning and definition of the terms '''Mainstream Media''' or '''MSM'''.  Some consider the '''mainstream media''' to consist primarily of those media organs that existed in the [[United States of America]] prior to 1987, and especially any of those media organs that continue to exist today.  Others take a view that the term 'mainstream', no matter the context, simply refers to 'that which is most popular'.

== Background of the definition ==

== Fairness Doctrine ==

In 1987, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] voted 4-0 to revoke, and cancel their enforcement of, the [[Fairness Doctrine]]. That doctrine mandated that if any opinion considered "controversial" were ever discussed on the public airwaves, the station over which that opinion aired was required to give [[equal time]] to any person wishing to reply. However, the FCC never set a standard about ''interpretations'' of current events that might be disputable, nor even examined that issue.

In 1987, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] voted 4-0 to revoke, and cancel their enforcement of, the [[Fairness Doctrine]]. That doctrine mandated that if any opinion considered "controversial" were ever discussed on the public airwaves, the station over which that opinion aired was required to give [[equal time]] to any person wishing to reply. However, the FCC never set a standard about ''interpretations'' of current events that might be disputable, nor even examined that issue.