Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction and overview of the various papers in this special issue. Design/methodology/approach – This takes the form of a discussion paper that explores a number of issues relating to accounting in the media. Findings – The paper describes a variety of theoretical, methodological and empirical approaches used in the papers for this special issue. In addition, the paper suggests that although the media have provided a rich source of data that has informed accounting research, the use of media and media texts will remain a fertile area of research. Practical implications – The portrayal of accounting in the media is of interest to accounting researchers, practitioners, trainees and auditors. Originality/value – This special issue provides a range of examples of accounting in the media and sets an agenda for future research.