Bias in the media? Yes and no
There’s a thread over on MonroeTalks.com titled, “News media IS biased.”
I’ve been engaged in this discussion, to one degree or another, for most of my 30-plus years as a journalist.
I’ve seen much of the research - some of which confirms the left-leaning of the mainsteam national media and some of which refutes those claims.
I’m not surprised by research that shows Democratic candidates getting more coverage and more positive coverage this year. There are reasons to explain the difference - for example, the first time in U.S. history that a woman and a black man are leading contenders for president. It kind of makes sense that they would get more coverage. But I doubt that kind of explanation would impress most conservatives.
I’m convinced that there’s something to the claims of media bias, especially at the national level. Most journalists strive to be fair and balanced - it’s what they were trained to do and it’s one of the principles that attracted them to the business. But they can’t change the fact that most of them come from the same educated, middle class backgrounds. They go to the same colleges, where the faculty tend to be liberal, and they attend the same workshops and frequent the same coffee shops. They’re human, and they’re products of their environment. That will be reflected in the decisions they make.
Conservatives who believe there is an organized, liberal conspiracy to give Democrats an advantage in national politics, however, are simply wrong. Journalists aren’t wired that way. They would reject such a conspiracy en masse.
Besides, as someone on the MonroeTalks.com thread pointed out, the liberal tendency of national journalists is balanced by the conservative ownership. Most national media outlets, whether television, radio or newspaper, are owned by giant corporations which, for obvious reasons, tend to support conservative candidates.
At the local level, any bias caused by the background of journalists is largely negated by the local nature of the work force. At The Evening News, most of the journalists come from the local area. They are products of Monroe County schools and Michigan universities. They reflect the community they serve.
I’m one of the few exceptions. I was born and raised in Oregon, 2,000 miles from Monroe County. But Oregon isn’t New England or New York, or even California. I come from a small state with a reputation for being fiercely independent. I’ve found that I fit well in Monroe County, a swing area with a full spectrum of political views.
So what does all this say about bias in the media. I believe strongly that Americans can sort through any bias, to the extent it exists. If you’re conservative, you’re probably sifting through anything you read or see or hear from the media, looking for bias. If you’re liberal, you can check out Fox News to get a different perspective.
December 6th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Good afternoon..
I would mostly disagree with your assesment.
The media is bias as noted by this; In the lst few national elections the media voted 8.5 - 1.5 for dems. I’m not sure that can be claasified as bias but rather an avalanch of onesidedness.
You are correct that one can turn to Fox News and catch conservetive views but one can also hear just as many libaral views. I guess the point is it’s about the only place you can hear a conservitive view that isn’t being shouted down or out numbered 3 - 1 or more.
To understand the libral bias look no farther then the last republican debate on CNN. My goodness I thought it was being run by the DNC. The questions and the framing of the questions couldn’t have been more over the top. This stands in sharp contrast to the Dems refusal to attend a debate hosted by the NAACP, I think, and broadcast n Fox. It was never held.
December 7th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Your point is well made.
As I said, I agree that there is a left-leaning media bias at the national level. You and I would probably just disagree on the degree. I think it’s subtle and unintended - more a consequence of demographics than any evil intent.
If you’re looking at a Republican presidential debate through conservative lenses, the questions by the media may seem liberally biased. If you’re looking at a Democratic debate through liberal lenses, the questions may seem conservatively biased. In fact, the questions are generally designed to be tough and pointed, which can seem overly critical.
That’s not bias - it’s trying to get candidates to respond to the questions people are asking on the Main Streets of America - which isn’t easy.
January 18th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Good afternoon,
You didn’t see the debate I don’t think.
A retired officer who is openly gay asked
a question about “don’t ask, don’t tell.” This was
on the CNN Youtube debate. The candidates all
responded. The host then introduced the General
and asked if he was satisfied with the answer. The
general said “no” then lectured to repubs about the
issue, then pontificated for well over three mins.
Mind you this was a republican presidentail debate!!
Turns out the general is on the hillary committe for millitary
and or gay affairs.
To answer your rebuttal to me, I’m not certain it was my conservative
colored lenses that made me think of liberal bias…..can you even
remotely envision this happening in reverse?
This issue is far deeper then your “depends which lense you’re looking through” conclusion. It most certianly isn’t a two way street and is repeatedly and consistantly a libral bias….
I’ve watched nearly ever debate and can’t think of an inapporpriate question being asked of a dem but can name several asked of the republicans. Who’s this one by chhir mattews to all the repubs. “How many of you by a show of hands believes in evolution?” He asked in a exsaperated tone seemingly “which of you fools/simpeltons will admit to this. I’d love to see that asked of the dems….talk about contorted answers can you imagine hillary thinking of all the different demographics while trying to give an answer?