Who was right? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tbomachines · #16 07-28-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

I expect opposition from the opposing political party. I expect bouquets from the supporting Party.
I expect the PRESS to do their job--its why they were specifically protected in the Constitution. The press has always been partisan--look at the converage of Lincoln--he was either a god, or a gorilla, depending on the newspaper. What is different at this time is that the press is nearly monolithic in its POV, and they claim to be unbiased.

In a perfect world that would be true. There are a number of journalistic biases, mostly having to do with money:
1. audience bias
2. supervisory pressure
3. advertising pressure
4. personal reputation
5. language accessibility

Lots more, can't remember them right now from my press classes without my notes. Most of it revolves around making your advertisers happy, then the readers. There are plenty of moderate and balanced news sources out there, but a lot of people do not realize it (or take the "fair&balanced, no spin zone" claims for fact). I wish it were completely unbiased as well but its not going to happen as long as there is a medium involved. As Marshall MacLuhan famously said "the medium is the message"