Media Bias
There is much debate when it comes to the media’s portrayal of the current events around us. Often times we have our own agenda and when it doesn’t match with that version being presented, we react. Aften with a call of bias.
I do it. I do it often.
And, as resonating more with the Right than I do with the Left, I always here that I’m drinking the kool-aid FoxNews is sellin’.
It’s hard to argue that. I think Fox IS bias to the Right. i think they DO represent a conservative viewpoint. And, past 8:00 eastern, the content they make available is VERY right. O’ Reilly, Hannity and Greta. Plus you got Beck in there at some point too.
But is it fair to hammer Fox for trending Right? Is it really fair to label people as ignorant for even watching Fox? I mean, aren’t there outlets equally as bias but only to the Left?
Surely. And I can name the names that come right off the tip of my tongue. But really, it may not matter who is bias and whether they are left or right. What might matter more is who is MORE bias. And for that, I found this study to be fascinating:
In this paper we estimate ADA (Americans for Democratic Action) scores for major media outlets such as the New York Times, USA Today, Fox News’ Special Report, and all three network television news shows. Our estimates allow us to answer such questions as “Is the average article in the New York Times more liberal than the average speech by Tom Daschle?” or “Is the average story on Fox News more conservative than the average speech by Bill Frist?”
The results were fascinating.
On the table below, the average score, or the”centrists” score is 50.06. A score higher than 50.06 is considered to designate a liberal bias. And the farther away it is from 50.06, the more Left leaning that news source is. For example, a score of 65 is more liberal than a score of 55. Conversly, a score lower than 50.06 represents an outlet with a conservative bias. Again, the farther away from 50, the more Right leaning that news source is.
Check out the 20 studied news sources:
Of the twenty news outlets studied, only 2, TWO, sources were biased to the Right. And FoxNews was the 5th most centrist of them all. Not even one of the major network evening news programs was more neutral.
Media bias indeed.
Tags: fox news, mainsteam media
