MEDIA BIAS

[DangerDave921]

I have to admit to some confusion. Those on the right constantly complain that the MSM is liberal and in the tank for Obama. And those on the left (especially at DU) complain that the MSM is conservative and in the tank for McCain. They can't both be correct.

Is there some objective means of measuring bias?

[AllieB]

1. Come now.

Surely you yourself have noticed the distinct slant to the right, unless of course you agree with the coverage of Obama.

:popcorn: :popcorn:

[DangerDave921]

2. that's not my point

My question is: How can two sides see the exact same things and yet reach polar opposite conclusions? It's a weird psychological phenomena.

I don't watch much MSM to be honest. Mostly cable and internet. So I don't really know what the big three networks are doing.

[Clark2008]

5. Truth v. brainwashing.

Liberals know the truth: the biggest media outlets are owned by large corporations whose principles donate primarily to Republicans while conservatives are brainwashed by all the, ahem, conservatives in the media who keep telling them the media is liberal.

Just once, I want to call the conservative talk shows around here and challenge their listeners to Google "who owns the media," then Google the names of those company's CEOs and then direct them to fundrace.org to see who those CEOs gave money to. Maybe then, they'll understand.

And, as an aside, I'm sure there are still several liberal journalists in this country, but their paychecks are paid by said corporate conservatives who serve as gatekeepers. These liberals may not like the sway their bosses spin on their coverage, but they, like most middle class Americans (and the vast majority of real reporters are middle class) have to feed, clothe and house their families, too.

[AllieB]

10. There is a website called Media Matters that you may want to visit.

This will give you some insight into how the media covers the two candidates. Also, check out FAIR http://www.fair.org

The myth of the liberal media died with the demise of Fairness Doctrine.

[DangerDave921]

12. Hold on there

Media Matters and Fair.org both self-identify as progressive outlets on their website. I was trying to find some source that may be more objective.

[AllieB]

16. No such thing nowadays.

But then again, based on your past discussions, you probably think "we" at DU are overreacting by correctly labeling the media as right-wing and racist.

At this point, you should know better that the media is owned by large corporations who have a vested interest in maintaining power for the elite that they are a part of. If you are skeptical, simply 'follow the money'. Who do these large corporations give money to?

[MagickMuffin]

17. Media Matters was started by David Brook who used to be a conservative

and participated in the RW smears against the Clintons during the 90's. He finally had enough and refused to be a part of it.

He knows how the media works in their coverage of the news.

That is one of the main reasons he started Media Matters, to challenge the bias.

Media Matters is one of the BEST sources out there to tackle this problem.

[AllieB]

19. But MagickMuffin-it doesn't matter!

It's a liberal website. :sarcasm:

The OP is looking for an unbiased :eyes: website that shows how the media really is liberal!

[DangerDave921]

21. Let me ask you

If I referred you to a conservative website, i.e, Heritage Foundation, would you also give it credence? No, you would automatically assume they are biased, and rightly so.

If you look at my original post, I set forth the issue -- the left thinks the MSM is conservative; the right thinks it is liberal. So to direct me to two self-identified progressive outlets does nothing but re-state the issue. I already know that Media Matters and Fair.org find the MSM to be conservative.

So my question is: Are there any non-partisan outlets out there who study this issue and who do any kind of objective research.

[MagickMuffin]

23. Oops, it was too late to edit: that should read David BROCK not Brook

:dunce:

[eshfemme]

3. Maybe a long time ago in the past there was a "liberal media" but with the creation of

media conglomerates that are corporate owned and with such a heavy Republican bias held by such corporations, it was inevitable for the media to be tainted in association. Now, all that's left is the outlandish claim that the corporate-owned mass media is a bastion of liberalism.

[Captain Hilts]

4. It's relative, not absolute. The media preferred Obama to Clinton but McCain to Obama. nt

[NatBurner]

6. lol

[jenmito]

7. A very recent study showed something like 73% of Obama's coverage has been negative in the GE

compared to about 45% negative coverage for McCain.

[Captain Hilts]

14. I believe that. The press - comprised of draft age men that dodged - won't touch McCain. nt

[FrenchieCat]

8. Watching should provide you with some data......

as well, this:





http://www.journalism.org/node/12200
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/919/spears-hilton-obama

Anti-Obama / Pro-McCain Media Bias from Thurs 31July
http://my.quadsville.com/post/Groups/Media_Bias/blog/3/antiobama_promccain_media_bias_from_thurs_31july.html

Obama vs. McCain: Media Bias Not What You Expect
http://stonecipher.typepad.com/the_stonecipher_report/2008/07/obama-vs-mccain.html

End The Media's Pro-McCain Bias! Now!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-weigant/friday-talking-points-36_b_108401.html

Jim Lehrer sees no pro-Obama media bias
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/no-pro-obama-media-bias-says/story.aspx?guid=%7B05F36C9C-40CB-49B3-A679-3432CA660E26%7D

Media Bias My McCass!
http://theeclecticquill.com/2008/07/29/media-bias-my-mccass/

[iconicgnom]

9. It isn't what they say, it's what they don't say.

[AllieB]

11. It's also what they say. The racism isn't veiled anymore.

Nor is the obvious disdain for Obama.

[Doctor_J]

13. Wingers are TOLD that media is liberal, so they repeat it.

Sane people actually understand that the media is ultra-right-wing and extremely partisan in favor of the GOP

[FrenchieCat]

15. A corporate media has no reason to support the candidate who

wants to reduce their taxes and deregulate the media so more? Of course it does, and that is what it is doing....which means that McCain is getting a free pass, and Obama is getting hammered. Those them are the facts.

[AllieB]

18. Thank you.

It seems like common sense to follow the money trail. But some people just want to plead ignorant.

[garybeck]

20. Just go to Media Matters . Org

You will find, that when you view it objectively, it's a slam dunk. In an effort to cover up their control of the media, the right continuously says it's a liberal media. if you check the facts... well, I'll let you do that and decide on your own. http://mediamatters.org

[DangerDave921]

22. Thanks, but

I already know that MM thinks the MSM is conservative. MM is a progressive outlet, though. So I was hoping to locate some non-partisan groups that study this issue.

[garybeck]

24. Media Matters

just shows you the stuff. you decide. there are no editorials there. they just post the quotations and sound bytes and video clips and you can see how these people are lying and calling it "news."


or just watch the news! it doesn't take a brain surgeon to show that they're not reporting what is really going on!

I'm telling you, to answer your question objectively... there is a right and wrong, there is truth and lies. the media is owned by the right wingers. their news is slanted towards it. they cover it up by saying the opposite.

watch the movie "Weapons of Mass Deception" and "OutFoxed." they are objective and you decide for yourself.

[garybeck]

25. "liberal media" is a lie to cover up the opposite

that is the bottom line. there is no denying it. they complain constantly about the liberal media but the truth is that Keith Olbermann is just about the only "liberal" truth speaker on TV.

[AllieB]

26. Kick for more help with this question.

:kick:

[Clark2008]

27. Here:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-onthemedia27-2008jul27,0,6802141.story

And here:

http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-liberalmedia.htm

And here:

http://www.completecampaigns.com/article.asp?articleid=88

[AllieB]

28. It's just too funny.

That people are obtuse enough to believe that:

A) it's a figment of the Democrats imagination

B) that there exists an unbiased benchmarking think tank that measures this.

It's in the RW's best interest to propagate the myth of the liberal media. All you have to google is the press freedom index and realize that the US has fallen precipitously since the '90s. It's pretty sad that former Soviet Bloc countries and former dictatorships rank ahead of us.

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24024