Media Bias

[bluffmanxx]

One of my favorite topics is media bias and how it affects our perception of the world and events. As a former radio news director I see more and more bias as simple reporting gives way to intrepretation of the "news".

Conservatives tell you that the staff of major media outlets is as much as 90% liberal. Liberals tell you that the major media outlets are controlled by mostly conservative large corporations.

This study says yes it exists.

This study says ownership of the media does not seem to matter.

This one says the media does influence our views.

I think the influence of the media in our lives is vastly downplayed....by who else - the media!!! Our views on politics, society, values and much more is constantly being molded and reinforced by our exposure to various messages through all types of media.

[motherfunky]

I agree doug, as with your point on another thread regarding adverts and how we are brain washed into wanting things rather than needing them.

Although I think the ad men are quite harmless when compared to the likes of RM who in Britain literally tells the punters who to vote for, hence both main parties have pretty much the same economic and foreign policy.

Amazingly both the main parties in Britain have both backed Tony Blair when he recently called off an investigation by the serious fraud squad into an arms deal between BAE and the Saudis because it was embarassing and harming relations!!

I shit you not

[calgaryjimbo]

I spent just enough time on the edge of serious journalism to know this: media bias has been in existence since the dawn of media. The myth of an impartial media, perpetuated by the media, is in my opinion, the biggest and most easily discredited lie the media tells. And it's also dangerous. If we all assume that the media is biased, one only needs to identify the nature of that bias to better understand what is actually going on.

In the States, Fox news is obviously, shamelessly pro-Republican, in spite of claiming to be unbiased. The rest of the "Big Three" are obviously, shamelessly pro-Democrat. Once you wrap your brain around that and understand that context, you can watch the news with a view to the slant you're getting, and better catch the spin that the story puts on everything.

At the same time, the regular programming is very clearly biased in a very particular manner as well. Shows made in Hollywood tend to be left-leaning (by American standards) and very pro-Democrat because that tends to be the nature of the people who make the shows. Where else but TV can we have a show like "The West Wing" featuring an obviously Democratic president running the nation with compassion and justice while Republican George W. Bush in actually in the office. Or what about "24?" They had a Democratic, good-hearted president for a couple years, then got rid of him and brought in a Republican super-villian president for a while and this year, we're back to the good Democrat in office. Again, all while Dubya is in office. Real subtle, eh?

There are plenty more examples that you can find without looking too hard. The point is, the media prefers that you not watch them with too critical an eye because you might notice what they're up to. But if you do actually put in the effort to pay attention to what they're doing, it becomes very easy to spot the bias when it rears its head and it becomes much easier to separate the real facts from the spin. Unfortunately, paying attention is hard for the unwashed, stupid masses -- and THAT is what the media is counting on.

[Night Nurse]

Oh don't get me started....

Let's push politics aside as there is going to be a general consensus that all media reporting is biased towards a particular political persuasion. It was once considered that our main news channel the BBC was apolitical, like I stated... once considered!!

Body image... why do you think so many women have such a poor body image when the media pushes Barbie dolls down our throats with the likes of Pamela Anderson and Jordan.


To the media it's irrelevant whether they have a brain cell between them because they conform to what was once considered beauty of the female form. I'd personally like to believe that there has been a shift away from peroxide blondes and excessive silicon implants to the more realistic brainy brunette (is it working guys?)

[GhostFromThePast]

And this is the part where I tell everyone that I fucking hate breast implants (ladies, if boobs don't bounce and jiggle like natural ones are supposed to, then they're not any fun), and I'm not much for blondes either... just sayin'.

Oh yeah, "Media Bias"... yep, it's there. And not just in the "civilized" countries, either.

[Sammy]

I don't know, never dated a set of boobs !

Media ... hm depends on who owns the media! Right wing or left wing... but they do come across in making judgments an opinions... Instead of reporting the news.... The Media seems, to produce the news, the way they would like to hear it. When do little white lies hurt?

[bluffmanxx]

Michelle, ty for taking this a step further. It's so obvious that the media and advertising have great influence in shaping society and shaping our views of most everything.

Oh, can you please post a picture of yourself in a similar pose?? Show us what a real woman looks like!!!

[motherfunky]

you cant trust the mainstream media

[Night Nurse]

Michelle, ty for taking this a step further. It's so obvious that the media and advertising have great influence in shaping society and shaping our views of most everything.

Oh, can you please post a picture of yourself in a similar pose?? Show us what a real woman looks like!!!

LMAO... but errrrrmmm nope but what about real women:

[bluffmanxx]

hey, i'm not in a position to be picky.

they both look great, but remember a woman can be fit and be "real" to.

fyi, i admit that after my chemo i gained back 25 pounds more than i lost and it's damn hard to get rid of the habits i picked up during my recovery.

oh, and women are just as influenced with unrealistic expectations as men are.