The topic of media bias has become one of the hottest topics these days, according to reporter Steven D. Levitt.
According to his research, studies have been performed to see just how media bias operates, and if it rings true. Levitt found two men, Tim Groseclose and Jeff Milyo, who estimated how left-wing or right-wing media outlets are based upon what research by think tanks they identify with or mention in their stories.
Groseclose and Milyo came to the conclusion that most of the media has a liberal bias, the exception being Fox News, which they cast right of center.
The terminology and descriptions used by the different media sources tend to show what side of politics the source is on. For example, phrases that Democrats use to describe an issue like the "Estate Tax" or "War on Iraq" are different than the "Death Tax" or "War on Terror" phrases used by Republicans.
If attention is paid to these details, then the reader can see which slant a media source gravitates towards.
The research of Groseclose and Milyo also pointed out that this slant is mostly dependent upon what type of audience the media is catering to (northern or southern states, democratic or republican.)
I agree 100 percent with Levitt. There has been, is, and always will be bias in the media. As long as people are allowed to think for themselves, differences of opinion will exist.
I believe a large part of this stems from the way this country was first set up.
In the south, plantations and farms were supported by a completely different functioning economy, never mind the slavery issue. There was typically only the extrememly wealthy or the very poor that made up the economy, and who do you think made political decisions? If your answer was the rich, you are correct. The south's views slanted toward a conservative view, and tends to remain so to this day.
In the north, a diamond-shaped economy thrived (the majority of the communities were middle class; the top narrowed with the wealthy, as did the bottom with the lower income families.) There was no need for slavery, and their economy was supported by and relied upon a great many people in the middle class. It was this majority that formed the structure of government and rule. They were progressive thinkers which made them more liberal in political structure.
In my opinion, it is this very reason for our current political diversity today. Traditions drive convictions, and emotion is a powerful catalyst in deciding political futures.
Media sources might want to remain fair and unbiased, but a person would be hard-pressed to find one that truly was.
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5 comments:
I do believe the media is bias. With people having their own opinions on certain views and set in their ways like in the South. The media can phrase words differently, but it still doesn't change how people feel on certain views. It can only show them the truth about issues in the country and world today.
News can be summerized in three specific words:Relevance, Usefulness, and Interst as given by "telling the story" by the the Missouri Group. Now putting a spin on a story is all up to the journalists that are reporting on the matter. Its usually left up to an individual or editor on which approach they will take in reporting the story. We live in a capitalist society and the new organizations are ran by corporate enties not by the government. Now, with that in mind, this may be the reason for the cloud in judgement on how a story is reported.
Advertisement produces most of these companies revenues making it all that much more important in catching the views attention. Civic and traditional journalism also have some play in this field too.
I agree most media most of the time is bias. Although media is not supposed to be. It is supposed to be unbiased and report the facts. However, a truly unbiased report is hard to find. It shows that no mater what or how hard we try our opinions come through our writing.
Its evident in so many news shows and even fake news shows like the Colbert Report and The Daily Show that reporters and writers have their own opinion. I think the news should be told factually and have no bias in it at all. In some cases it can influence others to choose sides. For instance a survey was done and found that 30 percent of people obtained their news from the Daily Show. That show is fake even though it does show the news it still has a huge bias.
I agree that there will always be bias in the media. With using slight differenes in terminology, people can get away with it with out being very noticed. I don't think it's right, but I also believe that everybody is entitled to their own opinion, no matter what profession they are in.
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