Media and communications

You can refer to systems of mass communication and the media by using a noun with the definite article (or sometimes by using a noun without an article). In this way you can distinguish them from actual objects; 'a radio' will always be a particular object, but 'the radio' could refer to a system, as in this example.

We gather facts and attitudes from the press, the television and the radio.

Words in this category are:

(the) television, (the) telly, (the) TV, the box, the telephone, (the) radio, the phone, the news, the newspapers, the press, the papers, the paper, the post (Br), the mail (Am).

When referring to television as a form of entertainment or communication, you can use the definite article (which tends to be informal) or no article.

They go on the television and smoke drugs in front of the viewers.

He isn't as serious as he is on television.

The abbreviations, 'TV' and 'telly' can be used in the same way, although 'TV' tends to occur without an article in this sense. 'Telly' is an informal alternative; another informal expression is 'the box' (always with the).

I don't want to be seen on the telly.

If someone says 'on the television' it can mean two things: 'physically on' (There's a photo of him on the television'), or 'being broadcast' ('There's a good programme on the television tonight').

If you say 'on television', only the second meaning is possible. You can refer to radio as a means of communication with either the definite article or no article.

I just heard her speaking on the radio.

When using 'telephone' or 'phone' to refer to a means of communication, you use the definite article.

A large part of Linda's day is spent on the telephone.

Here we are not thinking of one particular telephone; we are more interested in the form of communication. There are also the expressions 'by telephone' and 'by phone' in which 'telephone' and 'phone' refer to the system of communication, although there is no article.

...an attempt to reach her at the camp by telephone.

You speak of 'the newspapers' or 'the papers' when referring to newspapers as a form of media. The meaning is similar to 'the press'.

The papers are saying how unusual it is.

How would it look in the papers?

Sometimes 'the paper' is also used to mean newspapers generally, not one particular newspaper.

This is what we read in the paper.

When you use 'post' (American equivalent 'mail') to refer to a system of communication, you use the definite article.

One morning there arrived through the post an amazing letter.

However, there is also the expression 'by post' which refers to the service.

He acquired the necessary reference books by post.