Media Bias

[Controlled Chaos]

There are those on this site(you know who you are) who like to say there is no media bias because the right has Fox News, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh etc. I, along with many others here, have argued the media bias many times with you lefty's. Here's a good article on it....

 

 

The target audience of media bias

Jan 11, 2006

by Todd Manzi

 

Conservatives don’t have a level playing field because our country suffers from a liberally biased news media. Some people think media bias is not a fact, but merely a debatable opinion. These people are quick to point out that conservatives have venues for their ideas: talk radio, the Internet, Fox News and The Wall Street Journal.

 

Looking at the issue from a marketing prospective helps debunk the absurd claim that there is some sort of parity in the media for liberals and conservatives. Consider three target audiences: passionate liberals, passionate conservatives and normal people who vote. Those of us who fall in one of the first two groups, battle for market share of the third group. We want our ideas embraced. We want our candidates elected.

 

Paradoxically, the primary target audience for those of us passionate about politics is voters who are disengaged from politics. How do you reach this group? How do they form their opinions? Talk radio and the rest of the new media doesn’t reach these people or sway their opinions. The primary audience of talk radio is those of us who are passionate about politics and are committed to a political ideology. We are not normal.

 

 

Normal people don’t care as much about politics or liberal versus conservative ideology as they care about sports, hobbies, their jobs, family activities, etc. They are not interested in taking the time to understand issues on a deep level. They want sound bites and headlines. They want to glean information efficiently, form quick opinions and move onto something else more enjoyable.

 

The target audience - people who swing elections and influence policy because of their answers to public opinion polls - is reached through the mainstream media. These people spend a few minutes with the newspaper and catch their local news on television. The claim that media bias is not a problem because conservatives now have a voice in the media misses the big picture perspective.

 

Advertising types make decisions regarding getting their message out based on gross rating points (GRPs). Yes, the total GRPs from talk radio, the Internet and the rest of the conservative media, is huge. In fact, advertisers understand that for products disproportionately purchased by conservatives, they have attractive and efficient advertising opportunities. Although the reach of the conservative media is staggering when looked at on its own, it is tiny when compared to the reach of the mainstream media.

 

Total all of the GRPs from news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and their hundreds of affiliates across the country. Then add in the circulation of all of the nation’s newspapers and you have a Goliath that makes the audience of the conservative media look like a David. More importantly, the mainstream media reaches the audience that drives policy and swings elections, while the new media is preaching to the choir.

 

Associated Press Writer Deb Riechmann has more influence over public opinion polls than Rush Limbaugh does. Riechmann’s dispatches are printed in tens of millions of newspapers throughout the country and because she covers President Bush, her stories often get television coverage as well.

 

Liberally biased Riechmann is pawned off as news, but it is understood that conservatively biased Limbaugh is presenting commentary. When Riechmann packaged Cindy Sheehan sympathetically, and covered President Bush harshly, it made an impact with the primary target audience that influences public opinion polls. Limbaugh’s excellent commentary on the subject helps those of us who want to dig deep into important stories understand why we have the opinions we do. Limbaugh doesn’t change our opinion as much as he solidifies them. Riechmann, on the other hand, serves it up to those looking for the fast food equivalent of the issues of the day. The opinions of the people she reaches are more easily swayed than the opinions of Limbaugh’s more thoughtful audience.

 

The new media led by Limbaugh has been a wonderful development for conservatives. None of us would want to go back to the dark ages of the 1980’s. But, just because conservatives have a voice, it doesn’t mean the media is balanced. Liberal bias in the mainstream media is a huge problem in this country. Like other topics, those of us who take the time, understand the ramifications of media bias. Those who stay at the surface level of thinking, dismiss media bias as a non-issue.

[Rex Kickass]

The liberal media at MSNBC covered the Alito hearings and their analysis consisted of Pat Buchanan and a bunch of former RNC hacks. There wasn't a single democrat represented in their four hour coverage of the Alito hearings on Monday.

 

But yeah, liberal media I guess.

[WCSox]

It's painfully obvious that most of the major television outlets and newspapers report with a liberal slant... just as it is that Fox News isn't "Fair And Balanced."

 

What's even more disturbing is that PBS pays Bill Moyers to spew liberal commentary with taxpayer dollars.

[Rex Kickass]

Bill Moyers doesn't work for PBS anymore. He retired last year.

[mr_genius]

What's even more disturbing is that PBS pays Bill Moyers to spew liberal commentary with taxpayer dollars.

 

 

i don't really have a problem with NOW, i think it's a good show (slanted: yes, good: yes). i would like to see a show like that with a conservative point of view as well.

 

PBS also has the least biased news show on tv (The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer).

[vandy125]

The liberal media at MSNBC covered the Alito hearings and their analysis consisted of Pat Buchanan and a bunch of former RNC hacks. There wasn't a single democrat represented in their four hour coverage of the Alito hearings on Monday.

 

But yeah, liberal media I guess.

 

Maybe it is just me, but I thought that the article was talking about mainstream, quickhitting media in general. You seem to be talking not only about one singular instance, but also about something that no one would watch out of the group of people talked about in the article. People who just want to watch the news for a minute are not going to watch the four hour coverage of something like that. That is getting "deeper" into the news.

[WCSox]

Bill Moyers doesn't work for PBS anymore. He retired last year.

 

Good riddance.

 

I think one might even consider MSNBC more "Fair And Balanced" than Fox right now, after hiring Tucker Carlson. He and Scarbrough offset the overtly-liberal Matthews and Olbermann.

[Rex Kickass]

Conservative Pundits on Cable News with their own shows:

 

Bill O'Reilly

Sean Hannity

Brit Hume

Lou Dobbs

Joe Scarborough

Tucker Carlson

 

Liberal pundits on Cable News with their own shows:

Alan Colmes

 

Bat s*** crazy pundits on Cable News with their own shows:

Rita Cosby

Larry King

Nancy Grace

Chris Matthews

 

Liberal media, indeed!

Edited January 11, 2006 by Rex Kickass

[Rex Kickass]

Good riddance.

 

I think one might even consider MSNBC more "Fair And Balanced" than Fox right now, after hiring Tucker Carlson.  He and Scarbrough offset the overtly-liberal Matthews and Olbermann.

 

Chris Matthews carries water for whoever can help him. He's not a liberal or conservative. He's just an opportunist. And bats*** crazy to boot.

[mr_genius]

Conservative Pundits on Cable News with their own shows:

 

Bill O'Reilly

Sean Hannity

Brit Hume

Lou Dobbs

Joe Scarborough

Tucker Carlson

 

Liberal pundits on Cable News with their own shows:

Alan Colmes

 

Bat s*** crazy pundits on Cable News with their own shows:

Rita Cosby

Larry King

Nancy Grace

Chris Matthews

 

Liberal media, indeed!

 

 

if i wanted to push my politcal views during a newscast i would take NBC, ABC, CBS, New York Times, Los Angeles, ect. over Fox News and talk radio anyday.

[Rex Kickass]

NBC is the network of choice for the GOP, if you didnt know. Right behind Fox News. Tom Brokaw, was thanked in 2004 for his active help in defeating Tom Daschle in his home state of South Dakota by the head of the RNC live on the air.

 

But yeah, liberal media.

[WCSox]

Chris Matthews carries water for whoever can help him. He's not a liberal or conservative. He's just an opportunist. And bats*** crazy to boot.

 

Matthews worked for liberals for most of his career, including Carter and Tip O'Neill. While he's far from a tool of the left, his commentary on "Hardball" is still very much left of center overall. And I agree that he's a nut.

[Rex Kickass]

He also carries water for people like Jack Abramoff. And he's admitted to voting for Bush in 2000. But of course, he's a crazy liberal!

[mr_genius]

NBC is the network of choice for the GOP, if you didnt know. Right behind Fox News. Tom Brokaw, was thanked in 2004 for his active help in defeating Tom Daschle in his home state of South Dakota by the head of the RNC live on the air.

 

But yeah, liberal media.

 

 

lol, so Tom Brokaw is in on the vast right wing conspiracy?

 

oh yea, link to this 'damning' information on Brokaw?

[mr_genius]

Matthews worked for liberals for most of his career, including Carter and Tip O'Neill.  While he's far from a tool of the left, his commentary on "Hardball" is still very much left of center overall.

 

 

Matthews isn't really a liberal commentator.

[WCSox]

Conservative Pundits on Cable News with their own shows:

 

Bill O'Reilly

Sean Hannity

Brit Hume

Lou Dobbs

Joe Scarborough

Tucker Carlson

 

Brit Hume doesn't do commentary in the same way as the others, so I'd take him off the list. Dobbs is a stretch.

 

Liberal pundits on Cable News with their own shows:

Alan Colmes

Chris Matthews

Keith Olbermann

Ron Reagan

Paul Begala

James Carville

 

A year ago, Bill Moyers and Dan Rather could be included on that list as well.

 

Fixed

 

If we include the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Houston Chronicle, and the other liberal newspapers in major markets, the balance is definitely tilted to the left.

[Rex Kickass]

lol, so Tom Brokaw is in on the vast right wing conspiracy? 

 

oh yea, link to this 'damning' information on Brokaw?

 

I never said he was part of any conspiracy, but I wouldn't say he was part of the "liberal media" anyway.

[Rex Kickass]

Brit Hume doesn't do commentary in the same way as the others, so I'd take him off the list.  Dobbs is a stretch.

Fixed 

 

If we include the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Houston Chronicle, and the other liberal newspapers in major markets, the balance is definitely tilted to the left.

 

Brit Hume has a Sunday commentary show on Fox News btw.

And since we're including weekends you can throw in John Kasich, Charles Krauthammer on there as well.

 

Ron Reagan is no longer on tv. Nor is Carville, or Begala.

 

Keith Olbermann is an anchor, not a pundit.

And his leaning is no worse than Brit Hume and Shep Smith.

[Rex Kickass]

Bill Moyers and Dan Rather were NOT on cable either. And neither are still on the air today.

[mr_genius]

I wouldn't say he was part of the "liberal media" anyway.

 

i agree

[Controlled Chaos]

Rex, Did you even read the article??

[WCSox]

Brit Hume has a Sunday commentary show on Fox News btw.

And since we're including weekends you can throw in John Kasich, Charles Krauthammer on there as well.

 

Notice that all of these people you're bringing up are on the same network. No question that Fox is VERY right-leaning. Outside of the two conservatives at MSNBC, though, I don't see many at CNN (Dobbs really isn't), ABC, NBC, CBS, or PBS.

 

Ron Reagan is no longer on tv.

 

Reagan got canned already??? LOL! That must've been recently... I saw him on MSNBC just over a month ago.

 

Keith Olbermann is an anchor, not a pundit.

And his leaning is no worse than Brit Hume and Shep Smith.

 

Then I guess Brit Hume and Sheperd Smith aren't pundits either. Speaking of left-leaning anchors, I'll throw Jon Stewart in there, despite the fact that his show is more entertainment than news (the same is true for certain segments of Olbermann's show as well).

 

Bill Moyers and Dan Rather were NOT on cable either. And neither are still on the air today.

 

I didn't realize that the media was restricted to cable. But if we're going to talk about cable, we can throw in ultra-liberal MTV and their "news."

[CanOfCorn]

I think this discussion pretty much sums up bias in a nutshell. It is nearly impossible for anyone to not show their true feelings at some time in their journalistic careers. And usually, the most controversial sticks with you. The problem to me is, when a media outlet gathers all of the same type into one network, a la Fox News. Hannity and Colmes is kind of what I'm talking about.

 

Get some liberals, get some conservatives. The problem with that is, you get people turning it off when the person you don't agree with comes on. So, it ain't goin' away, deal with it.

[vandy125]

Then I guess Brit Hume and Sheperd Smith aren't pundits either.  Speaking of left-leaning anchors, I'll throw Jon Stewart in there, despite the fact that his show is more entertainment than news (the same is true for certain segments of Olbermann's show as well).

 

I would have to say that Jon Stewart is more typical of what people in the article would be watching than most of the names that have been brought up here.

[YASNY]

Rex, Did you even read the article??

 

That's what I was wondering. He's throwing cable news at us and the article talks about the Big 3 networks news coverage and the vast jungle of liberally slanted newspapers.

 

As I stated a few other times, typical liberal misdirection.