This study addresses three questions regarding the reality of machine translation (MT). First, it explores how media reports have shaped perceptions of MT. To this end, the researchers conducted a mixed-method analysis of media reports published from 2017 to 2022, incorporating a quantitative corpus analysis, a text-level news package analysis, and a sentiment analysis. The findings indicate no significant framing bias; however, the articles tend to emphasize MT’s technical and positive aspects, often framing it as a technological novelty rather than providing comprehensive discussions. Some articles present subjective and illogical arguments, potentially generating misconceptions about MT among the general public. Second, the study compares media reports and academic papers on MT. Media reports focus on the benefits of the technology and the perspectives of service providers, while academic papers mainly address human translators and the practical use of MT, including post-editing. This comparison highlights a significant discourse gap between the two realms. Third, building on the previous findings, the study discusses the future role of translation studies, emphasizing the need for improved public communication through media contributions, industry-academic collaborations, and public lectures. Despite limitations such as the omission of the most recent data and the lack of qualitative information, the study provides valuable insights into the framing of MT in media and academia, proposing future directions for the field of translation studies.