Bias in the Media redux

[MobBoss]

I know, I know, this has been argued before well and good....but perhaps not from this angle.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113485

MSNBC.com identified 144 journalists who made political contributions from 2004 through the start of the 2008 campaign, according to the public records of the Federal Election Commission. Most of the newsroom checkbooks leaned to the left: 125 journalists gave to Democrats and liberal causes. Only 17 gave to Republicans. Two gave to both parties.

The pattern of donations, with nearly nine out of 10 giving to Democratic candidates and causes, appears to confirm a leftward tilt in newsrooms — at least among the donors, who are a tiny fraction of the roughly 100,000 staffers in newsrooms across the nation.

Hmmm. Exactly how are we supposed to perceive this, when the number of journalists donating to the dems outnumber those donating to republicans aby about 9:1?

Is it possible to be a non-bias journalist if you are donating to either political party? I hardly think so. Do you think journalists should be banned from donating to political parties due to their nature of their job?

Is this good evidence that could certainly indicate a heavily left leaning bias in our media today?

Discuss.

 

[.Shane.]

And most accountants probably donate to the Republicans, but I think they're professional enough to do my books w/out screwing me if I don't agree with them.

I think its in the nature of the job that people who are in journalism are predominantly left-leaning. Those are the types of personalities that such a job attracts. The question is, are they professional enough to leave their bias at the door? The second question is, are we mature enough to give them a fair shake and leave our assumptions/prejudices at the door as well?

 

[LucyDuke]

Is it possible to be a non-bias journalist if you are donating to either political party? I hardly think so. Do you think journalists should be banned from donating to political parties due to their nature of their job?

That doesn't address what's bugging you. A ban on donations doesn't change one's sympathies.

 

[The Yankee]

Craig Crawford made an argument that it would cloud his journalism if he even voted for candidates. Take that as you want, but we should also remember that journalists are American citizens as well.

Maybe it's this phenomenon of gotcha journalism that really opens up the floodgates and makes it that much harder for a journalist to be objective when the mud is flying from all directions.

 

[MobBoss]

And most accountants probably donate to the Republicans, but I think they're professional enough to do my books w/out screwing me if I don't agree with them.

The difference being accountants are not responsible for giving or expressing a viewpoint to the general populace. Their influence is basically nil as compared to that of journalists.

I think its in the nature of the job that people who are in journalism are predominantly left-leaning. Those are the types of personalities that such a job attracts. The question is, are they professional enough to leave their bias at the door? The second question is, are we mature enough to give them a fair shake and leave our assumptions/prejudices at the door as well?

Heh, do you think Bill O leaves his bias at the door and are you mature enough to give him a fair shake? Somehow I dont think so.

But again I ask....is this hard evidence of real bias in the media?

 

[C~G]

Based into that you might have to start banning everyone to donating either political party that might affect their job and then in turn towards the more serious problem and ban politicians getting donations since it might affect their job.

But of course we can trust politicians more than journalists...

I would point out that they are giving money not getting money. And it might be since they might have better view what political party should be supported than other people.

But again I ask....is this hard evidence of real bias in the media?

Yes, more or less bias towards truth.

 

[Mark1031]

Could we get a list of all the donations of the heads of the corporate entities that own the various media outlets. They are the boss ultimately and if you want to keep your job you must please the boss. And if anything being a news professional and having an innate political bias (as everyone does) will actually make you bend over backwards to favor the other side so as not to taint you work.

 

[Atlas14]

I've long given up on trying to convince people about how liberally biased the media is. It just simply isn't worth it anymore.

 

[The Yankee]

Yes, more or less bias towards truth.

What is the truth? Of course, if you go through multiple sources and try to cut out as much of the fat as possible, you'll get the basic idea. But, people don't do that.

 

[C~G]

The whole freaking idea of media is that it should be liberally biased, and I don't mean left leaning in sense but something supports personal freedom and works as counterbalance to government.

Democracy ain't democracy anymore if you turn it into government propaganda spamfest.

What is the truth? Of course, if you go through multiple sources and try to cut out as much of the fat as possible, you'll get the basic idea. But, people don't do that.

It was a joke.
We're talking about journalism here, it always has limited view to issues.

 

[Ecofarm]

Heh, do you think Bill O leaves his bias at the door and are you mature enough to give him a fair shake? Somehow I dont think so.

But again I ask....is this hard evidence of real bias in the media?

Bill O is not a reporter/news anchor. He hosts an opinion show that clearly states its political bias.

To see the liberal bias in mainstream media (and I mean the news reporting, not the openly opinion based shows) you only need to consider how each party might want the event to be protrayed and then decide which camp is being represented.

I see donations to political parties as a 'freedom of expression' or 'freedom of speech' issue. We should not ban either donations or voting for private citizens. Instead we should educate our children on what each political leaning is likely to underplay/overplay in the news, and allow them to choose a news source that is more in line with their opinion or not (know your enemy?) while being aware of the bias present in any report.

Any attempt to regulate the media or its personel is a VERY slippery slope.

The OP article does not qualify as "hard" evidence, because one would have to discount professionalism to assume that it influences how the news is reported. I would say it is evidence of some sort, but only when supported by the obvious bias present (through examination of content) at ABC, NBC, CBS, ABS, NBS, MSNBS, CNN(BS), etc.

 

[Shadylookin]

Perhaps it just means republicans are just too cheap to support their party Now that's partisan bias

you can't legally stop them from donating and you cant legally stop them from having an opinion. So I guess you'll just have to find people that favor your own bias

 

[JollyRoger]

The media is owned by big corporations who, under the free market theory, only make decisions that are good for business. So which of these is wrong?

1. The media is liberal
2. Being liberal is bad for business
3. The free market system doesn't work

 

[Neomega]

where was all this bias in the lead up to the Iraq war?

On the side of Bush.

 

[JollyRoger]

The fact that MSNBC of all outfits put out this report shows that perhaps fair & balanced reporting can occur, regardless of the leanings of some of the individual members of the organization.

 

[mrt144]

imagine left wing right wing bias from news outlets as a bell curve. its hard for you to claim bias if the majority of news outlets are of one viewpoint again and again.

 

[CartesianFart]

Hmmm. Exactly how are we supposed to perceive this, when the number of journalists donating to the dems outnumber those donating to republicans aby about 9:1?

That more journalists are more likely to be funding to the dems?Quite obviously in the last 30 years or so.

Is it possible to be a non-bias journalist if you are donating to either political party? I hardly think so.

It is not possible to be a non-bias journalist?-Yes.So,if a journalist donate to a particular party,then whatever political things that they write in their column or perspectives by way of electronic media such as television and radio is surely saying that whatever content that they made is definately politically biased.

Do you think journalists should be banned from donating to political parties due to their nature of their job?

As long as they are capable of seperating subjective opinion from objective facts,then I don't see why the question of banning them should be made.On the other hand,if the journalist deviate from that principle that I had just made,then they should at least be ostracized or somewhat be questioned of their credibility to some degree to deter them from doing so.

Is this good evidence that could certainly indicate a heavily left leaning bias in our media today?

On the subject such as War,I am afraid,yes.

 

[Truronian]

What is the media left leaning in comparison to?

 

[Neomega]

On the subject such as War,I am afraid,yes.

Where?

You mean how they keep insisting if we leave it will be a bloodbath?

You mean how they do everythign they can to demonize Iran?

I call B.S. the media is pro-government, because government is where they get the news from.

Iraq is a hell-hole, and only the delusional think it's just a smoke and mirrors media conspiracy.

 

[C~G]

What is the media left leaning in comparison to?

Fair and balanced Fox.