Why do you think the media leans left?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2007
Why do you think the media leans left?
57
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 10:54am

I know many people on this board feel that the media is often left-leaning and

Chrissy
mom to Aidan 8/21/03
Grayson Blaine 12/30/07

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2003
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:00pm

great link. thanks.

although now the question is not whether they personally hold liberal ideals but whether those ideals consistently show through in their reporting?

Bea

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2007
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:02pm

I see your point - and I think they do. And it shows in what they report vs. what is actual done and said. (or not even questioned to certain candidates)


http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2008/cyb20080918.asp#2

Avatar for thefalliblefiend
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:02pm

Scarborough, Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, Savage, Beck, O'Reilly, Liddy - among others. There are genuinely leftist stations like "Democracy Now" and "Air America" (radio shows, different audience). The vast majority of what gets called "leftist" is just nonsense - anyone who criticizes or asks a hard question of a conservative is called a socialist or a liberal. Think of the criticisms of NPR, for example. This is analogous to or a generalization of what happens in the religious sphere:

Pagan kid gets told he can't wear a "satanic" symbol to school and that's just too bad for him. Religious kid gets told he can't wear a T-Shirt with the text of Lev 20:13 and OF COURSE he has every right to do this. Some religious people get indignant and talk about how "their" rights are being violated.

Religious kid uses her valedictorian speech to recite a religious screed to a captive audience and OF COURSE she has every right to do this. If an atheist valedictorian (like my daughter) used the opportunity to stump for atheism (naturalism and reason), you can bet your behind some school board members, principals, et. al. would be unemployed by the next day.

There are two standards, because, well, of course some religious people have a natural, God-given right to be obnoxious with impunity.

Cute little story:
http://www.centeroncongress.org/learn_about/feature/when_partisan_venom_didnt_rule.php

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2003
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:04pm

charger,

since i saw the flag by your name, i'll ask: what does bias look like in Canada? do you see it in Canadian reporting (meaning it's just human nature) or is it uniquely American?

because i often look to BBC for their take on a an American headline, thinking they have less investment and thus less bias.

Bea

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2007
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:05pm
That is a cute story :). Thanks for sharing!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:07pm

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I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2007
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:10pm

Ohhhhhh yes let's talk about Canadian journalism. :)

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/09/05/f-vp-mallick.html

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:12pm

<<

 


 


I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2007
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:12pm

Tom Brokaw was asked this and I remember he had an interesting answer (I'm paraphrasing from what I remember from the interview, so please don't flame me because I can't provide a written transcript - LOL).

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:13pm

fiend, actually the media does lean left.


If you look at self-description in surveys, if you look at the political contributions made by those in the media, they consistently favor Democratic and left-wing candidates.


The question is how much does that bias leak into news coverage.