Media

**Cleetus** · August 1st, 2004, 05:00 PM

So, do you really think it is liberal, or just an idea shoved down our throats so much that in turn it has totally affected how the news is reported, or whatever...

Me, I think the media has a slant to the right, depending on what it is you are talking about. But for the most part, the right has more and louder voices out there and own more outlets.

**KINGofBLEH** · August 1st, 2004, 05:15 PM

What many people do not seem to understand is that the media has a slant to the "bottom".........bottom line that is. They are motivate only by the dollar. They will broadcast or print only those news items that are sensational enough to interest the maximum number of readers/viewers so they can continue to up their advertising rates. If that means having a liberal or conservative slant to their stories then so be it. Until now most of the media may have had a liberal slant because they know that the majority of Americans will tune in if provoked. Fox News has taken a slightly different angle by having a convervative slant and playing to conservative feelings/fears. Either way they get viewers and stay profitable.

Personally, I prefer the Christian Science Monitor and Wall Street Journal for news, simply because their focus is on something other than gaining more readers. I generally avoid televised news because the reporting is very shallow and tries to pass off opinions as analysis.

**Cleetus** · August 2nd, 2004, 08:00 AM

Sad how everyone voting on liberal, can't express why, maybe it is cause you have had that drilled into your head so often you blindly believe it without ever figuring it out for yourself?

**Camaro80z** · August 2nd, 2004, 08:04 AM

I think that it varies depending on the type of outlet that the news is coming from. I do think that the network news is slanted to the left. As for Cable news channels, I think that CNN and Fox news are slanted about the same, just on oppisite sides. As for MSNBC, people would have to watch it for it to be considered a media outlet.

As to talk radio, I do think that it is very right wing. The talk radio industry really seemed to gain steam during the beginning of the clinton years, as a backlash to what was seen on the nightly news. I also think that the hosts were very good at getting a reaction and making people want to listen in. It also seems that the majority of talk radio listeners are in the midwest, which the conservitive outlook is more in line with everyday life (my opinion). I do think that the left needs better hosts if they are looking to swing the balance of talk radio. Arrogant blowhards like Al franken do nothing for the cause, they actually trun more people to the other side.

**Ya_know** · August 2nd, 2004, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by Cleetus

Sad how everyone voting on liberal, can't express why, maybe it is cause you have had that drilled into your head so often you blindly believe it without ever figuring it out for yourself?

I think it's you that's been drilled all too often...but not in the head...

**Zil** · August 2nd, 2004, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Cleetus

Sad how everyone voting on liberal, can't express why, maybe it is cause you have had that drilled into your head so often you blindly believe it without ever figuring it out for yourself?

Maybe its because you are wrong?

**Cleetus** · August 2nd, 2004, 10:04 AM

That is the best you can come up with, that maybe I am wrong?

I have yet to see any proof of this overwhelming liberal slant

**Ya_know** · August 2nd, 2004, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Cleetus

That is the best you can come up with, that maybe I am wrong?

I have yet to see any proof of this overwhelming liberal slant

Turn on any channel other than FOX...that's your proof!

**Cleetus** · August 2nd, 2004, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Ya_know

Turn on any channel other than FOX...that's your proof!

I do, and I can't find the leftist leanings. I found during the 90's a lot of stories against Clinton. I found a lot of stories perpetrating the lies begun by the GOP spin machine against Gore. I found a lot of positve news for Bush, no hard questions against him. I find he gets off easier then Clinton did. And for some reason I know that Kerry is a flip-flopper but I don't know why

**pmetal** · August 2nd, 2004, 02:14 PM

Cleetus,

If you have time, read through some of this website:

Bias?

**Cleetus** · August 2nd, 2004, 02:23 PM

Lost all interest when at the very top they have a quote from Sean Hannity. And it seems to be only looking for a "liberal" media with no mentions of all the "right" skews.

Try offsetting this with maybe some Al Frankin or Robert Reich(Reason)

**pmetal** · August 2nd, 2004, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by Cleetus

Lost all interest when at the very top they have a quote from Sean Hannity. And it seems to be only looking for a "liberal" media with no mentions of all the "right" skews.

Try offsetting this with maybe some Al Frankin or Robert Reich(Reason)

That's a shame that you won't even check it out just because of Hannity, but that's your right and I respect that. But, that would be like me immediately tuning out Tom Brokaw or Dan Rather, which I have a strong inkling to do, but I will USUALLY listen to them and then go out for myself and find the facts. It's always good to listen to what the other side is saying, but you (all of us) need to go out for yourself and get the whole story. Sometimes it means you have to gather all the info from many sources and make your own opinion. That's what I try to do when there is a topic I'm interested in.

I guess what I'm saying is that I would prefer just to receive the facts from the "news" outlet, and let me draw my own opinion. Unfortunately, I have found that is nearly impossible, so I must work to find many sources and do it myself.

(does that make sense? kinda lost my train of thought. sorry)

**Major Kong** · August 2nd, 2004, 02:58 PM

IMHO I think it is somewhere in between. That being said I will add that historically in the US the Print Media has been somewhat more liberal. Not that there is anything wrong with that. In DC, NOVA and SM you have two daily papers. The Washington Post which is liberal and the Washington Times which is conservative. Now I always enjoyed the Times better when I was a wee lad in Central Virginia because the Sports section and Comics were better (I don't know if it is still true). Where I used to live (Tucson, AZ) is one of the few places that still has 2 Daily Newspapers. The morning paper has a liberal edge to it and the evening paper has a conservative edge. The truth be known they actually blurred on most topics. Again I liked the evening paper better because I left for work before the morning paper was delivered (that and I got blindsided in the early 90's on a story that the AM paper ran on Pb poisoning and they never printed a retraction although the other papers in AZ did

).
I actually watch very little of CNN, Fox News, MSNBC or any other of the cable channels. Most of it comes from newspapers I read throughout the US.
1. Anchorage Daily News
2. Richmond Times-Dispatch - since I was a kid
3. Tucson Citizen
4. Washington Times and Post
5. Bristol Herald-Courier
6. Kingsport Times
7. Wall Street Journal
8. Arizona Republic
As pmetal said above I look and research topics that pique my interest. I have a bad habit of trying to find out the real story for myself, just not depend on what someone is telling me.

**Cleetus** · August 2nd, 2004, 03:14 PM

So what about the AP network, how do yall feel about that

**Wayward Clam** · August 2nd, 2004, 04:20 PM

I think the real problem with this thread is defining the words liberal and conservative.

Kerry is not a liberal. He is a Democrat. There is quite a difference.

The media has a conservative influence overall, but it is more or less evenly biased between Democrats and Republicans, with the exception of smaller, independent media which are all over the spectrum.

The ONE thing I am convinced the USA is doing RIGHT is that free speech is still allowed in the press, although that is eroding slowly, mainly because it's not as popular as it is necessary...