Media Bias - Writers Forum

Malone · 05-06-2008, 06:14 PM

I was going to start a FOX News debate, but there was already a discussion on that two years ago, so I figured we could just make it about media bias in general.

All media is biased. I think we can all admit that. FOX News is ridiculously so, even though JosephB disagrees on that. Noam Chomsky thinks everything that we're allowed to see through the media is tightly controlled to serve the purposes of the people in control. I mostly agree with him on that point. It's not so much as I think they're outright lying to us, it's just that I think what they choose to NOT show us is the important thing. Also, they've refined phrasings and wordings to serve their purposes. Case in point: FOX released a memo to its employees concerning war footage, telling them to refer to snipers in the footage as "sharp shooters" instead of snipers because it seems like a less negative term.

What it boils down to for me is: If you go high enough in any media outlet, there's going to be either one man or a small group of men controlling said outlet. They more than likely have other financial interests and relationships outside their television stations or newspapers. It only stands to reason that these men would do everything they could get away with to make sure their media outlet does not report on news that could harm their and their friends' financial interests. They'd have to be crazy not to. I would if I were in their position.

Can there possibly be such a thing as non-biased media? Is this where the independent internet bloggers or pseudo-reporters or whatever they are do?

I'm extremely tired, so I didn't really lay my position out that well in this post, but hopefully it will be enough to kick start a good debate.

nacreous · 05-06-2008, 06:27 PM

FOX is a joke. a pathetic excuse for news. how they can possibly even consider their moronic jingoistic propaganda as news is utterly beyond me. Fox was the last to admit the existence of global warming, and now they are attempting to cover their wanton mistake with a glib go green campaign. too little, too late if you ask me.
thanks for starting this thread, dude. believe it or not I was seriously consider doing some FOX bashing on my own pretty soon.

the only think fox is good for is the simpsons, and house. And the simpsons more than balance the pittance of effect done by their newcast.
youre not going to get any debate from me on this subject. FOX SUCKS

Ungood · 05-06-2008, 06:41 PM

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Originally Posted by Malone

Can there possibly be such a thing as non-biased media? Is this where the independent internet bloggers or pseudo-reporters or whatever they are do?

I want dearly to say "Yes there can" but I know in my heart that the answer is no.

"Truth Seekers" and "Exposers" are out to expose things as such they only want to show you the info that supports their preconceived notions. They will not provide you info that would shoot down their own visions.

At best you will find enough info to formulate what "Could be" the whole story.

In the end, media that "sell" stories, are slaves to what people want to read as such they will put out what their target audience wants to hear, or more to the point, what they (The Media Provider) want their target audience to believe the truth to be.

And then there is sensationalism aspect of things, hype, witch hunts, "New Niggers on the Block" and things like that, which makes for a highly questionable content coming from the news outlets.

Quote:

I'm extremely tired, so I didn't really lay my position out that well in this post, but hopefully it will be enough to kick start a good debate.

Oh I imagine it will be Good.. and Bloody... I am betting heads will roll from this one.

Ungood.

Swamp Thing · 05-06-2008, 06:56 PM

I won't go into my feelings about Fox other than to say that Fox is about the only television I watch.

However, those who say there is no such thing as media bias are absolutely wrong. With correspondents for major operations doing the revolving door thing from media to government, generally from news to democrat politicians and then back again, (but then one has Tony Snow for the current President), thank God there is finally the internet where we can learn the biases and also have resources that are not the old style ABC, CBS, NBC cartel; where left of center was the only thing one could see.

smilinghelps · 05-06-2008, 06:59 PM

I'm not going to go point by point on this one or pick on one Network more than another.

Unbiased news reporting?

ROFLMAO!!

No, not today there isn't. Maybe one time, a long, long time ago. I think Online Bloggers are the closest thing we're going to see (one of my faves is Smugbaldy) to unbiased for now, until Big Brother can get a hold of 'em.

Malone · 05-06-2008, 07:14 PM

One thing about Fox that always pisses me off is that it's the only network where their talking heads regularly call their interviewees morons or tell them to "Shut Up." I'm always amazed that they're able to get away with that with a straight face, and people sit in front of their tubes and lap it up.

They're all biased of course, but none compares to Fox. Everything they do is made to push their very specific agenda. They get daily memos telling them what perspective and subjects they're supposed to push that day. No other news network does that.

They also have their whole "People say" bullshit that they use to get away with saying any lie they want under the guise of legitimacy. "Some People Say" that Bill Clinton regularly rapes rabbits. Of course, it's not them saying it, just "people."

JosephB · 05-06-2008, 07:15 PM

There is a liberal bias among the mainstream media. However, for the most part, there is nothing sinister behind it. I believe it has more to do with the kind of people who want to be journalists.

They are often idealistic and want to become journalists to "make a difference." Right or wrong, this is primarily a liberal attitude.

People who gravitate toward journalism, generally are more creative. The people who want to write for newspapers and be on TV tend to be creative. Creative people as a whole, tend to be more liberal.

FOX news is an attempt to balance this. No they are not, as everyone knows "fair and balanced." Their most popular programs are hosted by unabashed conservatives -- this is no secret. Alan Combs is a token liberal and a lap dog to Sean Hannity.

The actual news programs, not commentary, like Brit Hume's are fairly straightforward and really don't vary that much from CNN and the big three.

The thing that annoys me is, CNN and the big three claim to not be biased, and they are. FOX claims to be fair and balanced, but keep in mind, Ruport Murdoch is as conservative as they come and the news organization was formed under Roger Ailes -- a political consultant for Reagen and Busch Senior. So no kidding -- FOX is conservative. No not exactly "fair and balanced" but no more biased than the other networks.

I could cite some pretty good examples of how the these biases play themselves out. But the bottom line is, I get my news from a variety of sources -- including FOX.

EDIT: Did anyone notice that FOX was the only network that made it clear Eliot Spitzer was a Democrat? Most people would assume the the "law and order" prosecutor would be a Repeblican. This little detail was hard to come across on the other networks. Keep in mind there are enough of these shenanigans to go around -- in all media outlets. Just an example.

smilinghelps · 05-06-2008, 07:21 PM

Joe,

While I can appreciate that those who are reporting or writing the news may not have a sinister agenda, for me it's not so much the content of the reports as it is what they're reporting on.

I really don't believe that what we see on t.v. as "news" is all that newsworthy. Yes, some of it is. But a big, Big, BIG portion of it is fluff, specifically aimed to keep us from looking at what we should be.

That's the sinister part to me.

Malone · 05-06-2008, 07:24 PM

When Ailes took control he made a big point of stating that he was totally unbiased now and had left politics behind, so it's not as if Fox is any more open to admitting they're biased. Personally, I would kill Hannity or O'Reilly if I had the chance. And Colmes for that matter. I really doubt his "liberalness" in general. He seems to purposely set Hannity up to win every liberal argument. He's no Louisiana democrat, that's for sure.
And I'm certainly no liberal. I just hate these fuckers who think they're gods to mandate and judge others.

If you look at Fox's consultants, they have famous, powerful Republicans, and weak nobody Dems that will roll over when O'Reilly starts yelling at them.

Any organization that has to put "Fair and Balanced" in their tag line obviously isn't. That's enough of a reveal right there.

Ungood · 05-06-2008, 07:42 PM

Link to Funny Image

Ungood.

JosephB · 05-06-2008, 07:54 PM

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I really don't believe that what we see on t.v. as "news" is all that newsworthy. Yes, some of it is. But a big, Big, BIG portion of it is fluff, specifically aimed to keep us from looking at what we should be.

Sure. It's all crap. You haven't been able to get straight up news (more or less) on TV since the 60.'s

Still nothing sinister. People want to watch shit.

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That's enough of a reveal right there.

Of course Ailes is going to say that. "I'm here to start a network that will counter liberal bias?"

Fair and balanced? Yes. It's a huge reveal. And only slightly less disingenuous than claiming to not be biased.

I'll note the token conservatives on CNN etc. are always dweebs. Like that nitwit with the bow tie they used to have. FOX has Mara Liasson from NPR -- a sharp cookie.

I'm no FOX fan. I see it for what it is. But I look at it objectively. Unlike the people who can't distinguish commentary from news.

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Everything they do is made to push their very specific agenda. They get daily memos telling them what perspective and subjects they're supposed to push that day. No other news network does that.

I don't agree with these tactics, but the other networks don't have to -- the biased is innate.

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Link to Funny Image

Ungood.

Hilarious.

buyjupiter03 · 05-06-2008, 08:15 PM

Every generation and medium has had its own variation on "yellow" (sensastionalist) journalism. Unfortunately, ours has the ability to reach millions and millions of people.

What I find really really unfortunate is how people let the "news" programs spoonfeed them info. Sure, nobody has time to independently fact-check every single item...but you really should think about it a little bit. I'll read the headlines on the paper, or watch the synopses of stories on the news at 10, and have to snort with amusement that anybody could believe such illogic.

I've stopped watching the news because it's no longer news. It's fluff. If I want to know what the hell is going on, I go and *gasp* read a paper. Preferably one from outside of the country (other countries journalists have somewhat higher standards). But I still apply logic and thought to what I'm reading. I try to never blindly accept ANY media's statement of truth. I also try to get multiple sources of info so I can build up a better idea of where everyone's bias is so I can get closer to the truth of the matter.

nacreous · 05-06-2008, 08:18 PM

nice link ungood

Swamp Thing · 05-06-2008, 08:19 PM

Okay, I'll show my colors. I think Fox is the only thing close to bing fair and balanced. And I think that Fox' commentators are the only things close to admitting their true biases. That's why I watch.

I follow MoveOn just to see what live will be like under Facisim.

JosephB · 05-06-2008, 08:20 PM

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I've stopped watching the news because it's no longer news.

I watch it, but take it with a grain of salt. I get most of my straight news off the radio and from the AP website.