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Politics and "media bias"


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2013 Feb 11, 3:08am   37,246 views  150 comments

by dublin hillz   ➕follow (1)   💰tip   ignore  

It seems to me like both sides and by that I mean both sides that are far from center like to act victimized by the "media." Conservatives like to complain of "liberal media" bias. Liberals have been known to complain of slanted coverage by "corporate media" on the other hand. It seems to me like both groups are missing the point. Conservatives don't understand the common decency decorum and manners. Many media companies (with the exception of fox news) don't like to alienate and hence lose large demographics of viewers. At the same time these media companies are not likely to rock the status quo too much and alienate the advertisers who obviously rely on capitalist system to stay in business. The end result is obvious. The far right will have to stick with their talk shows on the radio and take whatever advertiser support they can get while the liberals will have to rely on listener sponsored support if they really want to present the far left point of view (such as KPFA 94.1 here in bay area). However for either side to cry "bias" is the height of arrogance and common sense and refusal to see forest for the trees.

#politics

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1   zzyzzx   2013 Feb 11, 3:13am  

dublin hillz says

Many media companies (with the exception of fox news) don't like to alienate and hence lose large demographics of viewers

I've seen stuff on liberal news outlets that alienated me and others. That's why Fox News is #1 in ratings.

3   dublin hillz   2013 Feb 11, 3:22am  

zzyzzx says

dublin hillz says



Many media companies (with the exception of fox news) don't like to alienate and hence lose large demographics of viewers


I've seen stuff on liberal news outlets that alienated me and others. That's why Fox News is #1 in ratings.

Fox is only #1 in ratings cause their viewers are much more likely to watch the programming consistently vs lets say CNN viewers. However, it makes absolutely no difference on election day and november 2012 was a testament to that.

5   edvard2   2013 Feb 11, 3:36am  

I admit I am biased and I am also a liberal. But I don't think its out of the question to suggest that conservative media is totally different than liberal media.

Conservative media, or at least the popular forms of it, are formulaic and purposelessly engineered. I actually listened to the stuff for a few months only because a friend of mine happens to be conservative and listened to it while we worked on stuff in the shop.

To me, the formula for conservative media is straightforward:

A: The shows are almost entirely editorial. In other words, not based on news but from the personal opinions of the host.

B: The content is purposively constructed to play into the listener's eagerness to believe something, most of which are popular conspiracies ( Like Obama's birth certificate, and so on). By repeating these things the listeners or viewers feel validated.

C: Content is presented in such a way as to lead listeners and viewers to believe that somehow they are the "Silent majority", that somehow nobody else ( except for the millions of conservatives who listen and watch conservative media) are aware of the content they are told is the "right" thing. Everyone else is oblivious.

D: Repeat, repeat, and repeat some more. The actual subject matter is very, very narrow. Obama's full name is mentioned. Popular themes that are heavily dependent on McCarthy-era ideals are constantly repeated. This brings a sense of familiarity: All stories can be tied to the same theoretical outcome.

E: Its ALL Liberal's fault. Whatever the story, liberals are always blamed for whatever. This serves as a convenient instrument at which a simple cause and effect scenario.

But at the end of the day, to me the largest difference between liberal and conservative media is that conservative media is more about creating an entertainment product. Its far more commercialized. Very little of it has to do with actual news and more about simply making the listeners happy by telling them what they want to hear and believe.

However, the formula works. Its a well-oiled, money-making machine and as a business model I can't fault it for its success.

6   CL   2013 Feb 11, 3:37am  

zzyzzx says

If Fox is #1, why aren't they the tall one in the cartoon?

If they are the friends of corporations and carry the water for a very powerful political party, don't they have the size, money and power that exceeds the rest of the media?

And the same gents who invented the myth of the liberal media, have time and again admitted it was only created as a strawman, to work the refs.

Fox is #1 because conservatives love confirmation bias.

8   Tenpoundbass   2013 Feb 11, 4:28am  

KarlRoveIsScum says

FOX news is not news, everyone know this, which is why it competes with Comedy Central!

It was Cobert and Stewart that took set design cue from FOX.

I have a theory the Angriest informed Republicans watch news sources other than FOX and listen to NPR. The rest are members of the choir or informed outraged Liberals that never watch Liberal news for the same reason their prospective Republican counter parts never watch FOX. So they have no freaking idea just how biased those other networks are.

9   edvard2   2013 Feb 11, 4:52am  

Cobert and Stewart are comedians. Big difference between them and someone claiming what they're saying is fact.

As far as angry Republicans, I seriously doubt many if any listen to NPR. The so-called angry Republicans listen to talk shows. Why do I say this? Because when I listened to these talk shows I noticed that lo and behold what was said on these shows was repeated verbatim by various conservatives on blogs, forums, and from everyday conservatives.

10   Tenpoundbass   2013 Feb 11, 4:56am  

edvard2 says

Cobert and Stewart are comedians. Big difference between them and someone claiming what they're saying is fact.

I like how Stewart and Cobert's roles blur depending on the topic.

edvard2 says

As far as angry Republicans, I seriously doubt many if any listen to NPR. The so-called angry Republicans listen to talk shows. Why do I say this? Because when I listened to these talk shows I noticed that lo and behold what was said on these shows was repeated verbatim by various conservatives on blogs, forums, and from everyday conservatives.

You know I feel the same way when I listen to NPR. And you just made my point. See how easy it all is, when we just work together to get to the truth?

11   varmint   2013 Feb 11, 5:16am  

dublin hillz says

Fox is only #1 in ratings cause their viewers are much more likely to watch the programming consistently vs lets say CNN viewers. However, it makes absolutely no difference on election day and november 2012 was a testament to that.

I'd say they are #1 because they are the only game in town for conservative biased news. If you want liberal biased news there are multiple outlets.

12   finehoe   2013 Feb 11, 5:39am  

The evidence that the entire mass media complex is “leftist” is skimpy and inconclusive, if not non-existent. Most evidence shows the media is actually quite corporatist and conservative.

The fact is that in America we have a corporate media driven by advertising dollars and an audience filled with groups of people who mostly just want to be entertained. What picture of the world do you think would come out of that? Hint: It has nothing to do with political leftism. In this country, even the leftists are right-wingers

13   edvard2   2013 Feb 11, 5:43am  

CaptainShuddup says

You know I feel the same way when I listen to NPR. And you just made my point. See how easy it all is, when we just work together to get to the truth?

Could you clarify? What was meant by that you feel the same after listening to NPR?

finehoe says

The evidence that the entire mass media complex is “leftist” is skimpy and inconclusive, if not non-existent.

There is an historical reason why the concept of a "liberal media" was born. Joseph McCarthy, as we all know was infamous for declaring that there were communists in the US government- even going as far as to implicate famous WW2 military figures- that various news agencies would do fact checks and dispute his ridiculous claims, which wasn't that hard to do.

His response was that the media was liberal. This was an attempt to turn the tables. If the media didn't agree with him, well of course they didn't because they were the "Liberal media". This tactic has been employed with great success ever since.

14   dublin hillz   2013 Feb 11, 6:43am  

finehoe says

In this country, even the leftists are right-wingers

Compared to latin america and europe you are probably right. However to be fair, I would say by the same token that compared to eastern europe our right wingers are hippie flower children!

15   Y   2013 Feb 11, 8:20am  

Fox is #1 because it is entertaining, no matter what side of the aisle you are on.
the drones at msnbc.. odonnell/maddow/mr.ed will bore you to tears with shit you already know...

CL says

Fox is #1 because conservatives love confirmation bias.

16   Y   2013 Feb 11, 8:47am  

No, they are entertaining...
That's why they kick everyone else's ass in ratings...

KarlRoveIsScum says

Fox is #1 because it is entertaining, no matter what side of the aisle you are on.

the drones at msnbc.. odonnell/maddow/mr.ed will bore you to tears with shit you already know..

17   Y   2013 Feb 11, 8:54am  

Which goes to prove the media in general is bias LEFT.

varmint says

dublin hillz says

Fox is only #1 in ratings cause their viewers are much more likely to watch the programming consistently vs lets say CNN viewers. However, it makes absolutely no difference on election day and november 2012 was a testament to that.

I'd say they are #1 because they are the only game in town for conservative biased news. If you want liberal biased news there are multiple outlets.

18   Y   2013 Feb 11, 8:56am  

Here....gnaw on this for awhile...lemme know when you come up for air...

P2+ (000s) 25-54 (000s) 35-64 (000s)
Total Day
FNC 1,226 253 495
CNN 530 164 239
MSNBC 423 124 197
CNBC 157 44 87
FBN 40 9 16
HLN 222 87 132

KarlRoveIsScum says

Quote: SoftShell says No, they are entertaining...

Especially if you have one foot in the grave.

KarlRoveIsScum says

The network's average viewer last season was 65 years old

Fox viewers are dying to watch. :)

It has been proven that these viewers are the least informed TV viewers , not a lot to cheer about!

These viewers still believe Iraq had WMD's, I could go, these viewers are low informational voters. Doh!

19   leo707   2013 Feb 11, 8:59am  

SoftShell says

Which goes to prove the media in general is bias LEFT.

So, a somewhat vague anonymous post on an internet forum is equivalent to "proof" of a liberal media bias?

Haha, yeah...never mind the actual mountains of proof that the "liberal media" is a myth. Yeah, you should go with the forum post...

Besides you would now want to disagree with what FOX "news" has told you to believe anyway, right?

20   Y   2013 Feb 11, 9:06am  

Well, i admit i may have been a little hasty....

leo707 says

SoftShell says

Which goes to prove the media in general is bias LEFT.

So, a somewhat vague anonymous post on an internet forum is equivalent to "proof" of a liberal media bias?

Haha, yeah...never mind the actual mountains of proof that the "liberal media" is a myth. Yeah, you should go with the forum post...

Besides you would now want to disagree with what FOX "news" has told you to believe anyway, right?

21   Y   2013 Feb 11, 9:09am  

Looky here PoliticoShit...
I ain't Ruki...i ain't Shrek...and i don't hate anybody...
but I would like to see your birth cert...(longform)

KarlRoveIsScum says

leo707 says

Haha, yeah...never mind the actual mountains of proof that the "liberal media" is a myth. Yeah, you should go with the forum post...

Besides you would now want to disagree with what FOX "news" has told you to believe anyway, right?

look at who you are arguing with! RUKI!SHREK! it's pointless, he is only interested in hating Obama and the fiction the birthers spew out. You cannot have any sensible conversation.

22   HEY YOU   2013 Feb 11, 10:17am  

FOX! Ha,Ha,Ha That's the funniest joke I've heard in a while.

23   Y   2013 Feb 11, 11:01am  

Prove it.
otherwise, you are just an extremely large version of a human

GASBAG
KarlRoveIsScum says

Softshell you are Ruki/Shrek, goodbye.

28   nope   2013 Feb 11, 1:04pm  

zzyzzx says

dublin hillz says

Many media companies (with the exception of fox news) don't like to alienate and hence lose large demographics of viewers

I've seen stuff on liberal news outlets that alienated me and others. That's why Fox News is #1 in ratings.

It's #1 in ratings because the only people who get their news from TV are old white folks.

At its peak, Fox News gets 3 million viewers per day.

By comparison, the US version of Yahoo News alone gets 40 million unique visitors per day.

29   MMR   2013 Feb 11, 2:09pm  

Ribas, dude you gotta be shittin me. I acknowledge, first and foremost that Fox is garbage, but then again so is MSNBC and CNN.

If you want an example of real news start looking elsewhere. Until then, you can't adequately prove that dems and repugs are diff.

robertoaribas says

Fox "news" flat out lies.

The other day, they claimed NBC hadn't said one thing ever about the controversial memo justifying drone strikes on ex-patriot Americans... when the actual facts are NBC broke the story! how is that for lying? No NBC, no story period. yet faux news claimed the opposite!

the liberal bias you are seeing on the other networks, is called reality. Sadly, for the uninformed, and usually unintelligent they will see these things as liberally biased:

30   thomaswong.1986   2013 Feb 11, 3:14pm  

robertoaribas says

The GOP has been on the wrong side of every social issue, AND every political issue.

like shipping Mexican citizens back to native country.. or maybe strong border controls.

these are same policies that even the Mexican/Canadian governments are enforcing.. as would every other nations government. But the US Democratic party opposes it. So how could GOP be wrong ?

31   MMR   2013 Feb 11, 3:16pm  

I laugh in the face of people who watch CNN and/or Fox consistently
you have to dig deeper to get 'journalism with integrity these days'

start with propublica.org

CNN?????? FOX??????really

dublin hillz says

zzyzzx says

dublin hillz says

Many media companies (with the exception of fox news) don't like to alienate and hence lose large demographics of viewers

I've seen stuff on liberal news outlets that alienated me and others. That's why Fox News is #1 in ratings.

Fox is only #1 in ratings cause their viewers are much more likely to watch the programming consistently vs lets say CNN viewers. However, it makes absolutely no difference on election day and november 2012 was a testament to that.

32   MMR   2013 Feb 11, 3:20pm  

Dont talk that way to booby......he is a 'disenfranchised clown' who doesn't like others(Asians) competing for his med school and law school slots. Thomas, how dare you speak such blasphemy?

thomaswong.1986 says

robertoaribas says

The GOP has been on the wrong side of every social issue, AND every political issue.

like shipping Mexican citizens back to native country.. or maybe strong border controls.

these are same policies that even the Mexican/Canadian governments are enforcing.. as would every other nations government. But the US Democratic party opposes it. So how could GOP be wrong ?

33   thomaswong.1986   2013 Feb 11, 3:23pm  

MMR says

Dont talk that way to booby......he is a 'disenfranchised clown' who doesn't like others(Asians) competing for his med school and law school slots. Thomas, how dare you speak such blasphemy?

bugger,,, too bad im not asian or gone to med/law school...

34   FortWayne   2013 Feb 12, 7:51am  

Most of the media tends to be a cheer leader for whatever current administration is. Whatever their reason, I'm sure it's motivated by money.

They change how they report issues, they change their language, they change arguments... So the old adage stands "If you don't read news you are uninformed, if you read the news you are misinformed."

35   leo707   2013 Feb 12, 7:57am  

FortWayne says

"If you don't read news you are uninformed, if you read the news you are misinformed."

Actually, that only applies to FOX "news", and to MSNBC for international issues. Just about every other news outlet is a least a little bit better than no news.

36   leo707   2013 Feb 12, 7:59am  

zzyzzx says

Wow, the photograph of that NBC van with all those bumper stickers sure is damning evidence that there is a liberal bias at NBC.

37   Tenpoundbass   2013 Feb 12, 8:13am  

FOX News want's to save people, from the people that want to save us from our selves.

38   Robert Sproul   2013 Feb 12, 9:58am  

robertoaribas says

The Dems on the other hand, are only about 40% wrong these days...

My take is about 75%.
95% wrong to75% wrong.
The, ever so slightly, lesser of two evils.

39   gbenson   2013 Feb 12, 10:02am  

CaptainShuddup says

FOX News want's to save people,

Let's be honest shall we? Fox just wants to make a tidy profit, and do so at the expense of a bunch of feeble minded paranoid schizophrenics who watch it.

40   Tenpoundbass   2013 Feb 12, 10:34am  

Also I notice the difference in Fox viewers vs CNN viewers.
Fox viewers hate CNN, CNN viewers hate Fox viewers.
And FOX viewers are the bigots?

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