mediaalinen

Mediaalinen is a term used in Finnish-language media studies to describe the transitional space between traditional mass media and contemporary digitally mediated communication. It refers to content, practices, and infrastructures that operate across multiple platforms and audiences, producing meanings that are shaped by both institutional media and user participation.

Derived from media and the Finnish suffix -alinen, the word conveys "pertaining to media" with a nuance of centrality or mediacy in the media ecosystem.

In analysis, mediaalinen is used to examine how stories migrate between television, online platforms, podcasts, and social networks; how algorithms influence visibility; and how audiences co-create meaning through comments, remixes, and memes.

It is applied in journalism studies, cultural studies, and communication theory to describe hybrid practices such as transmedia storytelling, cross-platform campaigns, and participatory journalism.

Because the term is not tied to a single formal definition, its interpretation varies by author and context.