Spring Break
Media bias makes joke out of news
Stacy Litz
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Ed-Op
Watching the news lately has led me to realize that it is hard to get an unbiased view on any political issue. The silent war between the conservative Fox News and the liberal CNN has started to show, especially during the first 100 days of Obama's presidency. Bias can also be seen in the coverage of the freedom fighting tea parties and "end the Fed" rallies that took place across America.
CNN's bias is blunt. Sometimes on CNN the Obama administration is "criticized" by presenting a panel of all liberals and Obama supporters. Of course, there is no critique and Obama is simply placed on a pedestal and made out to be a seemingly divine and perfect leader. However, when CNN chooses to place a commentator with an opposing opinion on the panel, that commentator usually degrades the opposing opinion. The opposing view point is instantly disregarded, and to viewers, they may actually be swayed towards the supporting side. For any opposition is simply incorrect. These incidents have occurred more often than not, on a wide range of topics, even those that barely touch on politics.
Bias can be blatant, but it can also be subtle. Susan Roesgen, a CNN reporter, covered the Chicago tea party protest April 15, and ended up saying that the "anti-CNN crowd" was "not really family viewing," among many other negative statements.
After a speech given by Barack Obama in February, Chris Matthews of MSNBC said, "It's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often."
Matthews' display of complete awe by a speech and his status as a lead reporter is enough to create a bias.
News programs also seem to be apt at grouping individuals into a collective state that proves to be false and even offensive. For instance, the reports of the tea parties often call those involved strictly "Republicans" and "right wingers," completely disregarding that there were other major contributors, including the Libertarian party. The news programs considered all Republican members of the tea parties to be supporters of George Bush, who also taxed and increased government spending. This quickly allowed news programs to refer to the protestors as "hypocrites" and "racists," for supporting Bush's spending but not Obama's stimulus bill increasing national debt.
CNN's bias is blunt. Sometimes on CNN the Obama administration is "criticized" by presenting a panel of all liberals and Obama supporters. Of course, there is no critique and Obama is simply placed on a pedestal and made out to be a seemingly divine and perfect leader. However, when CNN chooses to place a commentator with an opposing opinion on the panel, that commentator usually degrades the opposing opinion. The opposing view point is instantly disregarded, and to viewers, they may actually be swayed towards the supporting side. For any opposition is simply incorrect. These incidents have occurred more often than not, on a wide range of topics, even those that barely touch on politics.
Bias can be blatant, but it can also be subtle. Susan Roesgen, a CNN reporter, covered the Chicago tea party protest April 15, and ended up saying that the "anti-CNN crowd" was "not really family viewing," among many other negative statements.
After a speech given by Barack Obama in February, Chris Matthews of MSNBC said, "It's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often."
Matthews' display of complete awe by a speech and his status as a lead reporter is enough to create a bias.
News programs also seem to be apt at grouping individuals into a collective state that proves to be false and even offensive. For instance, the reports of the tea parties often call those involved strictly "Republicans" and "right wingers," completely disregarding that there were other major contributors, including the Libertarian party. The news programs considered all Republican members of the tea parties to be supporters of George Bush, who also taxed and increased government spending. This quickly allowed news programs to refer to the protestors as "hypocrites" and "racists," for supporting Bush's spending but not Obama's stimulus bill increasing national debt.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Roger Charles
posted 5/01/09 @ 10:10 AM EST
Very well written and good reporting; caleed it like it is. Almost all newspapers and Network news don't report the news, they try to make the news. They have forgotten the basic of news reporting. (Continued…)
Eric Dondero
posted 5/01/09 @ 11:58 AM EST
While I agree with the thrust of your piece, I must point out one objection.
You say that others were involved in the Tea Party protests besides just "rightwingers," like Libertarians. (Continued…)
True_Liberal
Tom Emmert
posted 5/02/09 @ 9:27 AM EST
Thank you, thank you! I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to see a student newspaper staff exercise critical thinking skills and tell it like it is. (Continued…)
Nilesh
posted 5/02/09 @ 4:55 PM EST
Yea I am tired of the news media in America. There are not only biases but lies and distortion going on with the media and US Citizens are being fooled. (Continued…)
John
posted 6/03/09 @ 7:51 PM EST
Journalist lie real people get hurt, the media just can't be trusted and media outlets should be held liable for media malpractice when their lies hurt innocent americans. (Continued…)
Robert
posted 6/17/09 @ 12:41 PM EST
The media is a joke, In a effort to save their jobs they have become trained seals mouthing anything this administration puts out, their effort is angering a lot of americans and they are in total denial, staying away from average americans preferring to stay in their own little groups, handing out those stupid meaningless awards and reassuring themeless that they are loved by an adoring public. (Continued…)
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