"On the Media" first aired February 7, 1993 on WNYC as a local call-in show, first hosted by Brian Lehrer, then Warren Levinson, and later, by Alex S. Jones. During its first episodes it was called "Inside Media", but the title was changed to avoid confusion with a same-named trade publication. In 1997 the show went national in a magazine-style format, hosted by WNYC host Brian Lehrer. During this period, this show was hampered by Lehrer being stretched thin, due to commitments from his own daily show, inexperienced producers, and the lack of an editor.