Liberal Media Bias- Most Americans Just Don’t Don’t Trust Them

By Bernard Goldberg September 29, 2010 79 Comments

Another nail has just been hammered into the coffin of the so-called mainstream media, an institution I like to call the lamestream media.

A press release accompanying a Gallup poll that has just been released says, “For the fourth straight year, the majority of Americans say they have little or no trust in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly. The 57% now saying this is a record high by one percentage point.”

For years, I have been talking and writing about bias in the mainstream media, liberal media bias to be precise. I have said there is no conspiracy. The network TV anchors don’t go to work in the morning, summon their top lieutenants, dim the lights, pull down the shades, give the secret handshake and salute and then say, “How are we going to nail those conservatives today.”

I was a correspondent at CBS News for 28 years and I can assure you that despite what some on the Right may think, it doesn’t happen that way. I wish it did, because no one would put up with that kind of blatant bias. The way it really happens is worse.

The problem is groupthink. There simply are too many liberals in America’s big, important newsrooms. News executives worship at the alter of diversity, but what has it gotten us? White liberals and black liberals, male liberals and female liberals, Latino liberals, Asian liberals, gay liberals and straight liberals.

I have no quarrel with racial, ethnic and gender diversity. It’s not a good thing to have the news filtered only through white men. But what about some intellectual diversity in the newsroom? How about a little diversity of opinion?

No, I don’t want those opinions turning up in straight news stories. But just as we need women and minorities in the newsroom in order to get a different perspective on the news, we also need conservatives to add their perspective to the dominant liberal news culture in our newsrooms.

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TOMMY FREEDOM

THIS IS UNBELIEVEABLE, BILL’S RADIO TALKING POINTS MEMO STATED

BECAUSE OBAMO SIGNED THE TAX BILL, IT WAS A BRILLIANT MOVE AND

HE HAS MOVED TO THE CENTER. SO, ALL IS WELL, HE WONT GET IT TILL
OBAMAS FCC SHUTS HIM DOWN. THEN HE WILL GIVE AN APOLOGY
TOMMY FREEDOM

HEY BERNIE, MY FAVORITE TV CHANNEL IS GIVING ME ANOTHER FIT.
THEY HONOR THIS GUY BY HAVING HIM ON 2 DIFFERENT
SHOWS, LIKE ONE WASNT BAD ENOUGH. HE WORKS
FOR THE GOVT AND CHEATED ON HIS TAXES FOR OVER
A DECADE. HES TREATED LIKE A CELEBRITY. THEY MUST
REALLY BE HARD UP FOR RATINGS, ITS A SHAME.! !
TOMMY FREEDOM

BERNIE, I’M CHANGING THEIR SLOGAN FROM: FAIR & BALANCED

TO: FAIR & LIBERAL SUBTERFUGE !
falcon7204

Bernie, do you remember the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics? I bookmarked it again just this evening. If journalists actually read the thing and took it to heart, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

Of course, if both political parties read, understood, and took to heart the Constitution of the United States, then we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in, either, right?
TOMMY FREEDOM

MEDIA FORGOT TO REPORT CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT 22%

HOME FORECLOSURES OVER A 1 MILLION THIS YEAR, FAMILIES GONE
NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT PROJECTED NEXT YEAR ABOVE 10%
STATES ONE BY ONE GOING BROKE, HEALTHCARE RATES GOING UP,
$ 13.8 TRILLION DEFICIT, INCOME TAX WILL GO UP, UP. NO MORE INTEREST MORTGAGE DEDUCTION, NO OFFSHORE DRILLING, THERES A
NAME FOR ALL OF THIS TYRANNY TRICKLE UP POVERTY!
Anarchocapitalist

I genuinely like Bernie Goldberg, but the truth is that conservatives and liberals are alike, they both support big government, whether it be through crappy national security policy or even crappier domestic programs. Won’t you tea party idiots realize that your movement evolved from Ron Paul’s campaign, WHICH IS ANTI-WAR!!!!!!!, disagreeing with Obama is all well and good, but idiotic rhetoric about military responses to Iran just empowers the government, think about it for more than 5 seconds. I am literally watching Sean Hannity right now and he is a war monger like most people on this site, like Bernie said, don’t listen to the mainstream media (LIKE FOX NEWS!) read Mises and Rothbard and real conservatives, the only person that ever makes sense on Fox News is John Stossel and thats the truth.
- Ron Kean
  
  So you like Bernie but think the rest of us are idiots? You’re the idiot.
  
  Republicans used to be just like the Democrats and now Republicans and Democrats the same are being run out of office. Unless Tea Party candidates are lying to our faces like the President did, there will be two real opposing sides soon. We’ll know more when the Right is voted in hopefully.
  
  Iran with the bomb empowers Iran and that would make the world more susceptible to the type of destruction that is probably unimaginable. It is not that reasonable people think that war is enjoyable. Everybody knows it’s horrific, you moron. It’s just when there’s a deadly threat, what do you do when diplomacy fails? Would you kiss the one who says he wants to kill you? I hope you’re not American.
  
  You should think for more than 5 seconds before you write here again and I don’t believe you’re capable of understanding the truth.
  - Terence A Craig
    
    Always the cordial and welcoming Ron Kean. Instead of engaging in actual debate and citing facts, he resorts to name-calling and general statements.
    
    So I guess you want to invade Iran, expand the wars and still complain about the budget deficit … typical.
    
    I’m still waiting for you to write something intelligent.
    - Ron Kean
      
      First learn how to read.
    - Terence A Craig
      
      …. and still waiting …
      - Ron Kean
        
        you’re too dense
TOMMY FREEDOM

BERNIE, THIS IS THE BEST WEBSITE IN TOWN, THANKS.

AS FAR AS NEWS GOES, MY WIFE LIKES IT, I LIKE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, YOU KNOW THERE IS 10 MIN OF NEWS, THEN ITS THE HUMAN BOREDOM STORIES, WE GO TO TINYVILLE WHERE TOMS DOG SPOT IS RECOVERING FROM DENTAL SURGERY, ISNT THAT GREAT. THEN LESTER DOLT REPORTS THAT A BALL PLAYER HIT HIS GIRLFRIEND BY MISTAKE, BASEBALL PLAYER INTERVIEW, ROCO SAYS IF I HIT THE BALL
HARDER IT WOULD HAVE GONE FURTHER, THATS REAL INSIGHT !
Wil Burns

Bernie you say the problem is groupthink. Are you saying the most watched cable channel FoxNews is a groupthink organization, because all it airs is conservative propaganda.
- Ron Kean
  
  you’re so funny
Wil Burns

Hey Bernie, How about Those ads run by our military to train parents on how to acquiesce to sending their offspring to be part of the war machine? They have me shouting at the TV every time I see one. Let tell the kid he or she, they are being conned. Tell the kids you don’t want him trained to kill people as a profession, to think of innocent people as collateral damage. How about we tell him to go to the Peace Corp if he or she wants to serve humanity. Are you with me Bernie?
- Jim Rennie
  
  Will, The military is subject to civilian leadership (c.f. constitution) so don’t blame the military! Peace Corps does excellent humanitarian work, but let’s not confuse the military mission with humanitarian ones. Military is our insurance policy that you and I can have this discussion and disagree. It is a political tool of a nation, not something to be used when politics fail. Our military is the best of its size in the world. International law precludes the intentional targeting of civilians or their use of them as shields. Our military is exemplary (but not perfect – mistakes happen) in adhering to these laws. Where is your outrage against those who intentionally target (Hussein’s Iraq, hamas, others) civilians and use facilities that are illegal under international law (churches, schools & hospitals) as staging areas for weapons and armed forces? Or do you simply hate America (free citizenry, free markets and a constitutionally limited government)?
  - Wil Burns
    
    Jim, Remember ‘Shock & Awe” I do and thousands of innocent Iraqi’s do too.
    
    God bless only America!
- Wils TV
  
  Wil, please stop shouting at me.
Peter G

The media at large are always perceived to be in the pocket of the ideological opposition.
zapdam

This lame stream media….Americas media and information services are totally owned by Corporate america.. Example News Corp… The news is what They tell you it is..Corporate america is for the most part Republican in their philosophy. The media has done a good job , programming America with right wing philosophy. The result is a stream of right wing republican governments controlling the White House from 1980 to 2008. 20 of those 28 years were a republican White House. So if you’ve wondered whats happened to America, that you don’t like Your America, well the buck stops at the feet of the republican party who have gutted americas middle class.
- Tim Ned
  
  Well zapdam, let me give you the benefit of the doubt. Who do you think should own the media, the government?
- Ron Kean
  
  Republicans are better than the Democrats.
- EddieD_Boston
  
  You’re as clueless as Wil Burns. Do you two live in the same little world? Seriously, your post is so stupid I burst out laughing when I read it.
zapdam

Robert Freeman added, “Between 2002 and 2006, it was even worse: an astounding three-quarters of all the economy’s growth was captured by the top 1%.”

the rich are getting richer and the middle class poorer.the republicans have gutted middle america.
zapdam

trying to make apoint here , is like trying to have a rational conversation with an insane man. it falls on deaf ears with the blind to twisted to see.
- Tim Ned
  
  I understand. You only want to make a point and no debate. Ok you are clear but then you should stay away from public forums. When you call Republicans “Satan”, which by the way I am trying to find your “Point” to that comment, and expect no feedback, you are the one deaf and dumb.
- EddieD_Boston
  
  Maybe it’s you?
Ron Kean

Bernie,

I’ve been following you a long time. Others here may be interested to know that you were the very first to report the bias. You were the first to say the cost of bias would be irrelevance.

And it’s because of irrelevance that the number of watchers and readers decline.

I just renewed my subscription to PJTV. It’s a good alternative to the lamestream people but I don’t want to pay all that money to a cable provider just for FOX.
zapdam

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death. Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775. it seems that in america that the only people they think want freedom is americans..thats why america keeps electing republicans, the great satans of america.
- Tim Ned
  
  zapdam,
  
  Could you please give us the evidence as I asked below. Of course not because it is impossible for you to enter into a civil debate.
  
  You say the blind can’t see, well I see you cyrstal clear. You can’t articulate a logical point so you refer to your vial name calling.
  - CCNV
    
    zapdam is starting to panic…calling names, throwing rocks. Maybe he already hears the flushing sound in the distance.
    - Adolf
      
      That is funny.
- EddieD_Boston
  
  This post is about as stupid as it gets.
TOMMY FREEDOM

IF THS BE TREASON , MAKE THE MOST OF IT. WHEN THE AMERCAN
SPIRIT WAS IN ITS YOUTH , THELANGUAGE OF AMERICA WAS DIFFERENT,
LIBERTY,SIR, WAS THE PRIMARY OBJECT. THE GREAT PATRICK HENRY.

ALL TYRANNY NEEDS TO GAIN A FOOTHOLD IS FOR PEOPLE OF GOOD
CONSCIENCE TO REMAIN SILENT THOMAS JEFFERSON
zapdam

americas media and news sources are totally owned by corporate america. the news is what they say it is. they have done a very good job of programming much of americas thought. control the information, control their minds or in computer terms what comes out is what you put in. add the rabid racism that lays just under the surface of america and there you have the tea party, sarah palin, o’donnel, limbach, beck, billo all foot soldiers for corporate america..
- Tim Ned
  
  Yes, zapdam I’m sure you are correct. And I trust you have detailed evidence of racism exhibited by the individuals you name. You can debate their stance against big government or on pro-business and less spending, but it’s just a lot easier to yell “Racism” isn’t it.
  - zapdam
    
    tim ned..its impossible to make a blind man see..blinded by hate
    - Tim Ned
      
      Bull! The blind see clearly from facts. Please give me the facts. Tell my how Palin is a racist. Let me clarify, based upon what I know about her, I wouldn’t vote for her but I have not seen one instance in her speeches or writings that would justify your charges. Please let me see the clarity in your vial attacks.
- Ron Kean
  
  The only one with rabid symptoms here is zapdam.
- EddieD_Boston
  
  You’re a complete fool.
Wil Burns

First Helen Thomas, now Rick Sanchez….So, who are they, that RUNS the (MEDIA)..yeah, them..oops, you can’t fire me “)
- Tim Ned
  
  Will,
  
  You have to be hired before you are fired so I’m sure you have nothing to worry about.
- zapdam
  
  helen and rick know this is really not a country of free speech.. you are not allowed to speak your mind. corporate america owns ALL of the media and information sources.. the news is what they say it is.. control the information control the minds.
  - Tim Ned
    
    You are absolutely wrong zapdam. You can’t decipher the difference between free speech and the consequences of that speech. In this country, unlike most other countries as Canada, you can say what you want. In most countries around the world you can’t because they have hate speech laws. Our gov’t provides you the right but has no responsibility to provide you with a podium. Say what you want but that right comes with responsibilities and consequences.
  - EddieD_Boston
    
    Like when Rush as fired from FOX b/c of his remark about McNab? Rush was wrong but shouldn’t have been fired. Does this upset you?
- EddieD_Boston
  
  To begin with Wil, Rick Sanchez is token and probably in way over his head. They could have hired a white male with a brain but they chose him so they’d be PC. Plus, his ratings were in the tank and they were looking for a excuse and he gave it to them.
Terence A Craig

Bernie, I think you’re “over the line” and making assumptions without facts. First of all, this Gallup Poll refers to “Mass Media” which is everybody ( Television, Print, Radio etc.) including your beloved Fox News. It does not say (specifically) what sources are viewed by Democrats or Republicans, Conservatives or Liberals. So when you point to your “Lamestream” media, there’s no specifics to support your claim.

Second, the charts in the Gallop poll are fairly consistent over the past 10 years (close to the margin of error) and are only up by one percentage point this year. Since Gallup only called 1,019 households, I would hardly call this a significant difference.

Third, your favorite line from the poll, “Democrats and liberals remain far more likely than other political and ideological groups to trust the media and to perceive no bias.” who’s to say what they are watching or reading , what media (specifically) are they trusting? Maybe they’re Fox News watchers and WSJ readers.

The overriding theme (also the title) of the poll is “Distrust in U.S. Media Edges Up to Record High,” my interpretation of a slight increase in distrust would be the upsurge in partisan media like Fox News (you could argue MSNBC, fair enough); both are examples of how SOME media are favoring one side or the other.

And lets not forget the last line of the article, “it appears the media are neither gaining nor losing significant ground — but are just managing to hold steady.” Maybe the title of the article should have reflected this line, but then they wouldn’t have got your attention.
- Bob Burnett
  
  Mr. Craig, you have no idea what you’re talking about. I am an independent voter, but I cannot claim that I have no bias (I’m human, and every human carries certain biases – those who claim to be unbiased are only fooling themselves). Nonetheless, I do not think it difficult to see that Fox News is about as close to being unbiased as you’ll find in today’s media. Yes, they carry something of a tilt to the right, but they work harder than anyone else to present both sides of the issue, particularly on their news reports. Their commentators, however, are mostly unabashedly right-leaning, although some of their “contributors” lean distinctly to the left. The so-called mainstream media, on the other hand, are almost universally at the far left of the spectrum, some of them claiming otherwise and some of them not trying in the least to hide their biases. All this clearly shows why Fox is the ratings giant, while CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC and CBS are all foundering, and Newsweek sells to the highest bidder for $1.
  - Wil Burns
    
    Bob,
    
    Liberal Bias Media My Butt!
    
    Do you have conservatives constantly yammering at you about the media’s liberal bias? Well next time throw a little of this at them:
    
    Mention that the very liberal Fox News Channel has more viewers than CNN.
    
    Mention that the longest running show on PBS was that liberal show Firing Line with that liberal William F. Buckley.
    
    Mention that the Sunday PBS pundit show The McGlauglin Group is named and orchestrated by that liberal John McGlauglin with a panel of three conservatives (including Mr. McGlauglin), one moderate and one liberal.
    
    Mention that the second largest media organization is America is owned and controlled by that liberal Rupert Murdoch.
    
    Mention that the most listened to talk radio show in America is from that liberal Rush Limbaugh.
    
    Mention that the most listened to political commentary on radio in America for the past 50 years is that liberal Paul Harvey.
    
    Mention that the magazine with the largest circulation in America, TV Guide, is owned and controlled by that liberal Rupert Murdoch.
    
    Mention that the daily newspaper with highest circulation other than USA Cheeze Whiz, is the liberal Wall Street Journal.
    
    Mention that Newsweek’s back page editorial 3 out of 4 times is from that liberal George Will.
    
    Mention that ABC, CBS, NBC and their owners; Disney, Westinghouse and General Electric are liberal corporations.
    
    Mention that over 90% of the daily newspapers over the past 16 years endorsed such liberals as Reagan, Reagan, Bush, Bush, Dole and Bush for President.
    
    Mention that you can’t even turn a radio on the AM dial without hearing such liberals as Bob Grant, Ollie North, Rush Limbaugh, Gordon Liddy, Ken Hamblin, Michael Reagan, Armstrong Williams, Bill O’Reily, Sean Hannity and Laura Schlessinger pushing their liberal propaganda.
    
    And when you are done mentioning all that, look them squarely in the eye and ask what the problem is? Is it that they think you are stupid, or more likely, is it that they are stupid?
    Bernie,are you listening?
    - EddieD_Boston
      
      Wil, where do you come up with these “facts”? Stay off the DailyKook.
      - Wil Burns
        
        Facts are facts, Deal with it!
    - The Patriot
      
      WIl Burns says so! So there!
    - Henry Yu
      
      Thank God for FOX News, Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, and of course, Bernie Goldberg!
    - Anarchocapitalist
      
      You are completely right Wil, the major media (not mainstream) is dominated by conservatives, which doesn’t matter because republicans and democrats are the same. They are both the party of big government, I just wish these so-called conservatives would get it,George W. Bush was one of the most progressive presidents we have ever seen and Reagan was responsible for the biggest tax increase at his time. These are facts people, please look them up.
  - Terence A Craig
    
    Mr. Burnett, If you think Fox News is “close to being unbiased,” you’re sadly mistaken. As long as Hannity and Beck are doing their nightly nonsense and trying to pawn themselves off as news and information, Fox News is a laughing joke – just for allowing it. Fox News also shows their bias in their graphics, their selection of photos, their constant referral to polls (trying to influence how people think) and their “softball” interviews with right-wing political candidates.
    
    You speak of how wonderful Fox is doing in ratings but threw in major networks as a reference. I’ll assume this is an oversight on your part; the ratings for the major networks (news) are far greater than Fox News. NBC news (for instance) has about 7.5 million viewers, the same time slot on Fox News has 1.7 million viewers, even if you use O’Reilly’s (prime time) slot for comparison, he has 3.4 million on a good night.
    
    I realize Fox News is on top of the ratings when comparing them to other cable news, but this is getting off the point I’m making. Bernard Goldberg is trying to connect a poll claiming increased mistrust in the media (all media) to mean HIS “lamestream” media. There’s no doubt there are right and left leaning media, but this particular poll has no data separating HIS “lamestream” media from right-wing media or any other media for that matter.
    
    One other thought about shrinking ratings for network news, we’re in an evolving period with more options; instead of waiting for network news at 7:00, more people are choosing other outlets including the internet. The theory that “liberal bias” is causing ratings to drop is wishful thinking and not supported by facts. So who is to blame when Glenn Beck’s viewers went from 4+ million to 2 million? … (and dropping.)
- voted against carter
  
  So which “LAME-STEAM MEDIA” outlet did you say you worked for? And you are a registered Democrat, correct? Which pretty much proves Bernie’s point.
  
  As the Sundance Kid would say,..
  “You just keep doing that Butch, it’s what your good at”.
- Tim Ned
  
  Craig, what Gallup Poll are you reading? From 1973 to present the swing in “% not very much/not at all” is nearly 30 percent. From a low of 30 percent to the current 57 percent! In the last eight years it’s up 8 percent. Bernie states clearly that the current poll shows a 1 % swing in the last year. Consistently the chart over the past 40 years is not favorable for the LSM. One would believe that this poll would make the heads of media organizations such as CNN, ABC, NYT, and NBC rethink that it’s not outside forces that are seeing their market share shrink; perhaps it’s the way they deliver the news.
  
  You can’t blame Fox for the obvious, if their growing and everyone else is shrinking it’s obvious what the problem is. Liberal Bias!
  - Terence A Craig
    
    Tim Ned, the gallup poll I’m referring, is the same one Bernard Goldberg is referring.
    
    http://www.gallup.com/poll/143267/Distrust-Media-Edges-Record-High.aspx
    
    I realize the poll references other polls and goes back to the 70’s as you say, but there is NO separation of the “so-called” lamestream media and other media. This poll, as I said, refers to “mass media” which is every media outlet. The older polls have separations, but Fox News is lumped in with other cable news outlets – not by political beliefs.
    
    Bernard Goldberg referenced the last 10 years in his commentary, so that is what we are talking about, I understand the numbers “over all” have changed since the 70’s, but the reasons are pure conjecture regarding “liberal bias.” I would argue – right wing bias and misinformation are also a valid reason for gaining mistrust of the media.
    
    Please send my regards to everyone in the discussion forum, take care.
    
    Terence
Xavier Lerma

Thank God for Fox News. Freedom of the press is good if it is true. If Evil has the biggest voice in America what do we do? Watch America decay? Lenin was said film was a good persuader.Now we have TV in America. I have watched my America decay these past 40 years. We can vote out the bad congressman but who votes out bad reporting? Can we really say the other networks will go out of business? Solzhenitsyn’s speech at Harvard ,”The press can both simulate public opinion and miseducate it… Such as it is, however, the press has become the greatest power within the Western countries, more powerful than the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. One would then like to ask: by what law has it been elected and to whom is it responsible?”
thePRSF

The leftwing media lost all credibility a long time ago when they rigged gas tanks to explode, and screamed to the high heavens that “Global Cooling” was going to put us all in the deep freeze if we didn’t end our oil addiction and dispose of nuclear weapons(that was back in the 70’s). And now, 30 years later they are at it again but this time it’s “Global Warming.” Hoax, after hoax, after hoax and they are STILL trying to “change” America into their utopian paradise. And just like the Democrats, they have nothing but contempt for the American people who are just too stupid to understand their benevolence. I think it’s that arrogance that really roils me most…I know they are lying, but their snobbish, elitist arrogance that they are better people than anyone else (which in their eyes gives them justification for their propaganda) is what get’s me.
Ellie Velinska

A little diversity of opinion in the elite colleges and universities may go a long way too.
- Straight thinker
  
  Bingo – you (should) win the prize
Teresa

Not so sure there isn’t a secret handshake in a dimmed room. Remember Journo List? There were too many well known journalists meeting in this e-room comparing notes and making plans.
Lily

I live in a very conservative State, though the occasional liberal politician sneaks through and gets an office, for the most part this part of the State is conservative. I was told recently by a very conservative politician that our local media is more liberal than the two larger cities media. Now that is saying something. When my only outlet for local news is more liberal-biased than St. Louis or KC!! YIKES!!

While FoxNews says they are fair and balanced they really are more conservative, and I don’t have a problem with that. They are more fair and balanced than the legacy (as in dead) media and I deeply appreciate that!

Time to wake up America, you can cry for Walter Cronkite but I can tell you that my mother despised him. Why? Because he was too liberal! Yes even back then media was liberal and biased.

Good article Bernie, keep it up. I think people are starting to listen.

Change of subject…where is the outrage over all the things that the “healthcare” bill covers that have NOTHING what so ever to do with health? Can we repeal the whole thing or do we have to repeal it in fits and starts?
joe from louisiana

Another good one but it seems I’ve read this one before. Of course, your mantra has always been consistent. My daughters always roll their eyes at me when we watch a movie and I point out subtle(and not so) leftist programming. “Why can’t we just watch a movie?” I don’t perceive myself as a nut but I do believe there is an unconscious plan to bend their minds at a young age and then fully indoctrinate them in college. While you say their is no purposeful intent on the left, it appears to be more than accidental happenstance. I realize you worked there for 3 decades but leftists(I refuse to use the term liberal) get their panties twisted when a religious group or the military “brainwashes” people but aren’t some of these egregious techniques the same ones we see in media, movies and universities?
Jay Thompson

I laugh at and pity the LSM simultaneously! While their ratings continue to free fall, their higher-rated, yet dubious spokespersons like Stewart, Maher, and Colbert blather incessantly and typically stick their proverbial feet in their mouths. From Colbert’s asinine comments to a congressional committee, to Maher’s condemnation of Republicans as religious wackos, to Stewart’s restoration of sanity rally, their comedy reveals what the LSM couch in more “intellectual” terms: “much ado about nothing.”
Buz

The liberal bias of the lamestream media stems from the OWNERSHIP of the outlets. There is absolutely no way that the various anchors and reporters could so consistently slant their presentations without their ultimate bosses’ approval. And, there is also no way that actual incidents and stories containing happenings and facts which put liberals in a bad light could be withheld by editors without that approval as well. Fox News’s ratings are sky rocketing because they are presenting a consistently fair and balanced format and, probably more so by comparison with all of their competition which is not.
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Bruce A.

What is driving the ratings at Fox News? Did the Gallop poll ask about what makes a trusted news source?
Dan Farfan

If I had money to burn (you know, serious Bernie Goldberg type money 😉 , I’d pay two different universities to study the same thing: People’s understanding of media bias.

The subjects wouldn’t just be college students, but colleges are always looking for outside money for projects to help teach undergrads and grad students how the world works.

The study would first ask typical “opinion” type questions that were probably in the “poll” mentioned here. Then questions and exercises would test understanding of a few key concepts, such as bias, reporting, persuasion and (even) information itself.

My hypothesis is that only a minority of people actually understand the basic concept. However, many have heard people they choose to trust label someone this or that and adopted beliefs and opinions accordingly.

Seem crazy? Seem simple or simplistic?

Well, consider this. Do you believe a majority or a minority of literate Americans can identify the adverbs and adjectives in a printed sentence?
Then how do you expect them to detect when someone is selecting adjectives and adverbs to persuade instead of to inform? If parts of speech is arithmetic, asking someone about a higher order concept such as bias is roughly like quizzing about trigonometry in a Leno “Jay Walking” segment.
“Angle-Side-Side? What? Huh? When is Kim Kardashian going to be on the show again?”
Forget-about-it.

I’m not trying to refute anything in the poll or the post, but that context is relevant and rarely raised.

There is a marked difference between a person’s beliefs (and opinions) and how they came by them. The modern poll-heavy world we live in focuses far too little on sources and causes, in my opinion. We jump from opinions to facts, from predictions to promises (and vice versa) and from information to spin with reckless abandon. And that is very bad indeed.

Dan
– “The Next 10 Amendments”
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Craig Matteson

Show me where the lamestream press has ever focused on George Soros and his wide influence in the far left of our politics. They are always worried about small time right wing operators, but no the hundreds of millions Soros pumps into the system through a wide variety of organizations. If they have done a real expose, I would love to read it.
Norma

They have been biased and unfair for years. People are just finally starting to see it. I don’t know how it changes though … unless folks make their opinions known on Election Day,.
- Texas Mom 2010
  
  The LSM is already saying the voters are misbehaving, throwing a hissy fit, tantrum etc. The LSM will just repeat the mantra that the average American is stupid (acting stupidly) and therefore the election doesn’t really mean that the voters are sick of liberals. Obama, the dims and the press itself will give themselves a pass even though they know they have been governing (actually ruling!) against the will and against the beliefs, values and desire of ‘we the people’!
  - Wil Burns
    
    TM, Let’s recall the last time that the country actually managed to have a surplus, and who was in charge then. Let’s recall who cut taxes on his high-income buddies and produced massive deficits in a time of prosperity. Let’s recall who insisted on waging not one, but two, wars on borrowed money.
    - falcon7204
      
      Wil, when will you ever directly answer the point of a post? More to the point, do you actually *watch* the news? Or do you simply regurgitate leftist talking points from Kos, Politico, and Media Matters? The fact is, TM is right, the media is already saying the voters are stupid, that the electorate is having a tantrum, and Chris Matthews accused two Republican legislators of being “hypnotized” – and during the interview with Michelle Bachman, his fellow “analysts” on set were snickering in the background. Nobody was talking about Clinton, nobody was talking about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially not Texas Mom 2010, to whom you were (ostensibly) responding. Stick to the point of the post, and then maybe you won’t be derided as much by others on this blog.

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