Op-Ed: Media Bias And Political Leanings

Journalists are more prone to being liberal when it comes to politics. Although political orientation in the news media doesn't vary much across the field it is more likely that editorial writers are conservative. Does that mean all media is biased?

Media Research reports:

Policymakers were also found to be less liberal than journalists. According to Edsall, “These areas of divergence between the public and the press lend themselves to conflict, both with the consumers and the makers of news, and threaten to diminish the legitimacy of American journalism.”

Those statements were written prior to this election year. It seems the tide has turned and the pen is taking a more conservative approach. Obama bashing is now more likely by opposition in the media to McCain. This year's election the media also includes bloggers. Bloggers are decidedly biased. They have their favorites which is the basis of much of those who are blogging political blogs. Even with the negative press that the Democrats are facing these time around money may speak volumes. Major news sources have given more to Democrats than to Republicans.

"Most of the newsroom checkbooks leaned to the left."

The claim of political bias by the public tends to fall more with the Republicans. When presented with the question of if news media politically is biased against people with 'your' beliefs an Ohio State University study showed that Republicans that often discuss politics believe that "liberal media" is biased against them. The study also showed that Democrats didn't feel the same.

“When we judge whether news coverage is biased, we must have some kind of baseline in mind -- a perception of what is fair and balanced coverage. This study shows that our conversational contacts influence our baseline,” said William P. Eveland, co-author of the study and assistant professor of journalism and communication at Ohio State.

The more committed to one side of the political spectrum a person is the more they will tend to believe the media is biased, regardless of their leanings. So how do you tell if your news source is biased? First understand that each journalist you read has a political leaning. That reporter is generally a bit biased. It's not one journalist though that causes a source to be biased but the overall range of articles and stories that a source has. If a news source only favors one side that is biased. If the top stories and the editors placements of those stories all lean one way or another you can speculate a bias. Allowing negative words in articles can also be a means of allowing political bias. If you want to only read positive words about your 'side' it's best to stick to a blog that is aligned to your way of thinking. The news within will likely be what you want to hear. If you want to claim a bias go to blogs that lean the other way. If you are looking for bias stick to the larger news media source. Each time an article appears for the 'other guy' then scream loudly that the source is only promoting that side. Most news sources will lean slightly one way or another. A news source that aims to give the best over-all news coverage though will strive to not show favoritism by giving equal press time to both sides, both positive and negative. If you're not sure if your favorite source is being biased look to the editorial page, is there an even representation of both sides? If not you know which way the source leans.