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Bias in the Media

Bernard Goldberg’s Bias

  Journalists are elitists who are hopelessly out of touch with mainstream America – instead they are part of a liberal elite who see liberalism as the only correct way of seeing things. Liberalism, even extreme liberalism, is seen as moderate and mainstream so the liberal bias is invisible to the media.

Example: conservatives are called conservatives or “right wing” while liberals are not called liberal or “left wing”

Michael Parenti’s Inventing Reality :

  So long as journalists stay within acceptable boundaries they are allowed their independence – but journalists know if they stray from the prevailing “political-economic orthodoxy” they will face pressure from above

Reporters come from the upper-middle class and are blindly supportive of capitalism

Publishers oversee editors who oversee reporters and publishers are often conservative

Advertisers pay the bills and so have influence in promoting a pro-corporation bias

            “objectivity” is just the exclusion of opinions outside the dominant beliefs

            Most journalism just parrots the powerful in government, business, etc . . . 

Lowi and Ginsburg:

  Three major factors that caused bias:

Journalists – have a great deal of latitude to interpret and thus slant the news

A 1996 survey by the Roper Center and the Freedom Forum found that 61 percent of bureau chiefs and correspondents identified themselves as “liberal” or “liberal to moderate.” 9 percent called themselves “conservative” or “conservative to moderate.” In 1992, 89 percent voted for Bill Clinton, while 7 percent voted for George Bush. 50 percent said they were Democrats, 4 percent Republican

But if a story is seen as interesting to the public it will likely still get play (witness the Monika Lewinsky affair)

            Sources of news – Whether it is through leaks, “spin,” or lies the sources of news often try to manipulate its content and approach – Press conferences, press releases, “reports,” or campaign visits are attempts by sources to influence the content and flavor of the news

Recent trend – “public interest groups” are rarely questioned about their bias, the source of their funds, or the thoroughness of their research

Media Consumers – the demographic of the news consumer is affluent, well educated and professional – the media will present stories that are of interest to, or at least not offensive to, this demographic

            The environment is covered, but not labor news

            The stock market is covered, but not religious news

            The airline industry is covered, but not greyhound

            The media and protest – the media has great discretion in interpreting the events of a protest – upper-class protest (ie college demonstrations) is often seen more sympathetically and the protestors are more skilled at “staging” the protest to get the most sympathetic coverage