No, not a Brit thing as that expression is used just as much here, even by "the media". It's me thing, given there "is" several media - radio, TV, newspapers, etc. And in IT, I was annoyed years ago when this specialist kept telling me repeatedly "Your media is faulty" when he simply meant "your floppy disk"

I accept that all hands refer to "data" as singular, but it bugs me that they then go on to refer to a "data item" when "datum" would do/is correct.

>The smiley tells me you already know that is a Brit thing. Anyone who said "the media are" in this country would sound like a pompous a*s.
>
>
>>Tut tut: Always "get" it right! :-)
>>
>>(cf the data are correct)
>>
>>>I read this on the Internet so it must be factual. After all, if it comes from the Media via the Internet so it must be true. :)
>>>
>>>From:
>>>
>>>http://cbs5.com/national/Bush.Mideast.trip.2.626007.html
>>>
>>>
>>>“Bush is trying to build momentum for stalled Mideast peace talks and clear up confusion about whether the United States is serious about confronting Iran about its suspected nuclear ambitions. The president said both the United States and Israel have been targeted by terrorists, and he compared the battle against extremists to World War II when the U.S. and its allies fought communism.”
>>>
>>>The speech:
>>>
>>>http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031106-2.html
>>>
>>>I was not aware that we fought communism during World War II. But then, what would I know? There was no Internet at that time.
>>>
>>>It is easy to understand why people have so many differing views on any topic. Just believe whatever you wish. As for the Internet even a person who is insane can publish whatever they wish and it becomes fact.