Mediateksti

Mediateksti is a concept in media studies describing textual content that exists within mediated communication. It refers to how text is produced, distributed, and interpreted across multiple channels such as news sites, social networks, video platforms and messaging apps. The term covers not only the plain article body or post, but also the surrounding text and features that accompany it, including headlines, captions, subtitles, metadata, tags, comments and transcripts.

A central idea is that mediateksti is always mediated. Its creation and meaning are shaped by platform affordances, algorithmic ranking, moderation policies, and user engagement. The text is often co-authored by producers, intermediaries (such as platforms and algorithms), and audiences who remix, quote, and respond. Consequently, the same underlying message can take different forms and carry different implications depending on how it is distributed and interpreted.

In research and education, mediateksti is used to analyze information flow, gatekeeping, and digital literacy. Common methods include discourse and content analysis, ethnography of online communities, and reception studies applied to texts like headlines, captions, transcripts, and comment threads.

Illustrative examples include a news article with its headline and metadata, a YouTube video with captions and a description, or a tweet thread plus replies. The concept helps explain how platform design and audience activity shape meaning in contemporary media ecosystems.