A widespread liberal bias in the mainstream media is a common perception. This idea is a myth, however, and ultimately fails to account for the actual shortcomings of today’s media-particularly the mainstream broadcast media outlets.
In Wednesday’s The Daily Reveille, my colleague Jason Doré wrote a column titled “The media proves its leftist leanings.” He cites a recent study done by the Center for Media and Public Affairs which attempts to show that recent coverage of the midterm elections has heavily favored Democrats. The Center is overwhelmingly funded by conservatives and right-wing organizations. This, however, does not mean the study is not factual. Actually, it likely is correct-recent events covered by the media do seem to harm the campaign efforts of the GOP.
Does this “prove” a liberal bias in the media? Well, no. If recent news hurts the GOP and in turn helps Democrats, that is not the media’s fault. Like Stephen Colbert said during the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner, “Reality has a well-known liberal bias.”
The reasoning that supports the liberal bias myth rests on two claims. First is the belief that an overwhelming majority of journalists tend to vote Democrat and identify as liberals. The second claim suggests that journalists frame or choose coverage to fit or promote that political ideology.
Research and analysis of content has consistently shown no liberal framing. Yet even many liberals are still willing to concede the first point to conservatives who complain about the supposed liberal bias. But even this claim is suspect. Several surveys and studies indicate that most journalists do tend to have liberal views on social issues but more conservative views on economic issues. This is generally the case for most professionals in similar income brackets.
Despite findings and statistics that demonstrate otherwise, the liberal media myth is still often discussed as if it were common sense. In defense of this idea, conservatives and right-wing media “watch-dog” groups typically offer anecdotal evidence.
The recent scandal involving former Congressman Mark Foley, R-Fla., has been highlighted as evidence that the “liberal” media is out to get Republicans and help Democrats win the midterm elections by focusing on a Republican’s transgressions. The Foley scandal, however, is not evidence of a liberal agenda. It is evidence of one of the shortcomings of corporate media.
As corporations, the mainstream networks are in the business of selling a product for profit. Media corporations make more money from ad revenue when more people watch their programs or read their papers. Political scandals sell. We want to read or hear about politicians that have inappropriate sexual relationships.
The recent controversial remarks made by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., is dominating the coverage of mainstream broadcast media. Kerry said people should get a good education because otherwise they could end up “stuck in Iraq.” Although Kerry argues that this was a “botched joke” aimed at President Bush for his failures in Iraq, his comment prompted outcries from Bush and numerous other Republicans demanding an apology.
The media’s focus on this new-and for Democrats unfortunately timed-“scandal” is clearly a result of media selling sensationalism. If there truly was a widespread liberal bias and desire of the press to get Democrats elected, this recent event would not have received the extensive coverage it has. Where was the liberal media during the obsessive press coverage of Clinton’s scandals?
Doré cites a recent program on CNN titled “Broken Government: Power Play,” which asserted that under the Bush administration our nation has seen the greatest expansion of executive power. Many things support this view from the warrantless wiretaps and spying programs to secret prisons to Congress giving Bush a blank check to wage war to his record-setting use of executive clauses in signing bills into law.
Nonetheless, Doré seems to think this program ignored the facts by suggesting we have seen worse abuses of presidential power when Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the Civil War or when Franklin Roosevelt imprisoned thousands of Japanese based on race during World War II. Ironically, these examples actually parallel some of the things the Bush administration is actually doing. The writ of habeas corpus was thrown out for detainees two weeks ago when Bush signed the Military Commissions Act into law. The ongoing “war on terror” has resulted in several innocent people being imprisoned based on ethnicity and religion.
The idea that there is a systematic or widespread liberal bias in the mainstream media is not supported by the facts. Anecdotal evidence and cries that press coverage happens to hurt the GOP does not substantiate these claims. The real reason the liberal-bias myth is perpetuated-especially by conservative pundits-is that it serves as an effective excuse for the failures of conservative politicians.
The liberal bias myth allows people to ignore the facts and evidence whenever it goes against what they would like to believe about society and politics by dismissing it as liberal bias.
The press has the job of keeping a check on government through informing the public of what is happening and offering critical analysis and investigative research on policy and policymakers. The media certainly has its problems, but it is not due to liberal bias.
—–Contact Erik Browne at ebrowne@lsureveille.com