At 25 I am still a college student. Not full time, just taking the classes that I need and don't really like. After moving to North Carolina then to Texas, school was one of the last things on my mind. Then came a full time job with Girlstown, and I just didn't see the point of going back. But my boss and a few friends convinced me otherwise. Now, almost two full years later I am taking my last "catch up" class. (A good deal of my NY credits didn't transfer or didn't match up to what the school offered.) My last class that I am currently enrolled in is...Government...!!!...I saved, or put this class off till last just because...well, just because its government! I would much rather get a shot then have to read the pages that seem to drag and drag and drag, AND I hate getting shots! I freak as soon as the nurse walks in with just a clip board.
So this week I dragged my book out from under a pile of dirty clothes, jumped up and down on it, murmured something about how much I loathed it under my breath, and finally sat down to read it. The title of this weeks chapter, Mass Media: Setting the Political Agenda. Wonderful! I get to learn about how TV and newspapers shape our thoughts and only report what "they" want. For the most part that was true, just a bit more detailed. However, in my reading yesterday I stumbled upon something I found to be incredibly interesting. I even got a little excited about it and gleefully told Colin about it!
Some of you might be aware of the current accusations being strung about concerning Fox News. What I read yesterday will tie in beautifully with that. Here is what started it all, "The political values of the media are decidedly liberal and reformist." Also in the same paragraph was this, "Most Americans agree that media new coverage is biased and the bias is in a liberal direction." !!!!! Ok, that whole section was titled "Liberalism in the Newsroom". The next section went on to say that more then 60% of Hollywood describe themselves as liberal, and that "Hollywood is a major source of Democratic Party campaign funds.". However in the same text it also states that this figure does not mirror the American public. As a whole America is outnumbered by self-described conservatives, but because of the control that Hollywood has over most of our airwaves what we see and hear is generally being pushed in a liberal direction.
So now I am interested. I turn the page and see these two headlines: "Are the Media Biased?" and "Fox News: Fair and Balanced?". Hmmm...Lets see what this book has to say about the media being biased. "Nearly three out of four Americans (thats 74%) see a "fair amount" or "a great deal" of media bias in news coverage." Ok, interesting. Now the next sentence said that of those who see it as being biased, over twice as many see it being a liberal bias rather then a conservative bias. Even the liberals see a liberal bias in the media.
Now on to Fox News. The Fox News network was created by a man (Rupert Murdoch) who isn't even considered a conservative in his own views, but saw an unfilled market for conservative views on American TV. Thus Fox News was created. "We report, you decide." is the network's slogan. They feel that if their reporting appears to be conservative it is because "the country has become so accustomed to left-leaning media that a truly balanced network just seems conservative.". Oh how true... The last paragraph of this conflicting view over Fox News said this. "The bottom line, financially as well as politically, is that Fox News is now the most watched cable news network, even surpassing CNN. Whatever its flaws, Fox News has added diversity of views to American television.".
So is it any wonder why it has come under such attack lately? It could be that old saying, truth hurts.
The next chapter in my government book it titled "Political Parties: Organizing Politics". I wonder what goodies are in there??!!
My book is Politics in America, 7th edition, by Thomas Dye.
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