Carolyn Nachman
cn290310@ohio.edu
As journalists it is our responsibility to report the facts
in a manner that is as un-biased as possible. This can be difficult, especially when
attempting to express your voice without presenting a one-sided, biased
argument. This occurs during presidential elections and while covering social movements.
Political Bias
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| Photo Courtesy of 123rf.com |
When presenting political polls and facts, the news media attempt to appear as unbiased as possible. However, in recent years, the media have received criticism for abandoning previously held values of unbiased media coverage.
The issue of political bias is especially pertinent every four years during presidential elections. Different media outlets are criticized for endorsing candidates of different political parties. While Fox is known as a conservative network, it typically endorses Republican candidates, whereas more liberal networks, such as NBC, typically endorse Democratic candidates.
In recent years, this network bias has steadily increased. According to the Media Research Center, the 2012 presidential election saw the worst political bias this country has seen in 25 years. Liberal media outlets are even being criticized for deliberately attempting to influence the outcome of elections. The nature of political bias can be seen when looking at political polls and data designed to predict which candidates are leading the election.
In a clip from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, we can see that in one day President Obama led the polls by 4 percentage points according to CNN, was down by 2 percentage points according to a Gallup Poll and was tied with Mitt Romney according to Fox News. While these discrepancies could be a product of poor data collection, it is more likely that they are a result of biased data collection as well as biased media reportage. While it doesn't appear that the news media will become unbiased overnight, it becomes the duty and responsibility of the American people to watch the news and remain as objective and unbiased as possible.
The issue of political bias is especially pertinent every four years during presidential elections. Different media outlets are criticized for endorsing candidates of different political parties. While Fox is known as a conservative network, it typically endorses Republican candidates, whereas more liberal networks, such as NBC, typically endorse Democratic candidates.
In recent years, this network bias has steadily increased. According to the Media Research Center, the 2012 presidential election saw the worst political bias this country has seen in 25 years. Liberal media outlets are even being criticized for deliberately attempting to influence the outcome of elections. The nature of political bias can be seen when looking at political polls and data designed to predict which candidates are leading the election.
In a clip from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, we can see that in one day President Obama led the polls by 4 percentage points according to CNN, was down by 2 percentage points according to a Gallup Poll and was tied with Mitt Romney according to Fox News. While these discrepancies could be a product of poor data collection, it is more likely that they are a result of biased data collection as well as biased media reportage. While it doesn't appear that the news media will become unbiased overnight, it becomes the duty and responsibility of the American people to watch the news and remain as objective and unbiased as possible.
Media Bias with Social Perspectives
One of the most high profile cases in recent years was the trial of George Zimmerman, charged with the second degree murder of Treyvon Martin. The trial raised concern about racial profiling and self-defense laws. These concerns were perpetuated by the news media throughout the proceedings of the trial, as well as after Zimmerman was found not guilty of all charges.
Some feel that the liberal news media slanted their coverage in an attempt to make Zimmerman appear guilty and support coverage of the "Justice for Treyvon" movement. While the news media are often accused of perpetuating certain movements to push their ideas forward, they have also been accused of not covering movements they feel don't re-enforce their liberal agenda.
According to an article in The Washington Post, a doctor accused of killing seven infant children and one mother at an abortion clinic is receiving little to no media attention because doing so would contradict the media's liberal perspective.
Some feel that the liberal news media slanted their coverage in an attempt to make Zimmerman appear guilty and support coverage of the "Justice for Treyvon" movement. While the news media are often accused of perpetuating certain movements to push their ideas forward, they have also been accused of not covering movements they feel don't re-enforce their liberal agenda.
According to an article in The Washington Post, a doctor accused of killing seven infant children and one mother at an abortion clinic is receiving little to no media attention because doing so would contradict the media's liberal perspective.
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