Newscasters Are Too Opinionated and Biased
73
|
Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism (Turning Points in History)
Price: $3.98
List Price: $19.95 |
|
Deciding What's News: A Study of CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, Newsweek, and Time (Medill Visions of the American Press)
Price: $15.98
List Price: $19.95 |
Did Bill Go Over The Line?
Once upon a time, Americans sat in their living rooms and listened to a newscaster report the news over the radio. The entire family would sit and eagerly listen to the facts of the day. The facts of the day dealt with European battlefields and political debate. Oddly, what the family received from these newscasters were only the facts of the days events. No one questioned whether FDR was right or wrong, they only detailed what he did that day.
Today, the era of objective news casting is dead. Gone are the days of Edward R. Murrow or Walter Cronkite who were amazingly admired and respected by the American public for the objective way they delivered the news. Today, we have Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, Glen Beck and everyone at CNN who not only fail to deliver the news objectively, but openly state what agenda they are pushing. The corporate news today no longer delivers the facts to allow the public to decide on their own right and wrong, but instead tries to persuade the public to one agenda or the other.
In the past, it was the policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission that holders of broadcast licenses present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was honest, equitable and balanced. This is what was known as the Fairness Doctrine.
The Supreme Court upheld the FCC"s right to enforce the Fairness Doctrine but in 1987, the FCC abolished the fairness doctrine outright.
The abandonment of the Fairness Doctrine from our news media renders the news media today nothing more than a collection of talking heads. Guests are either caressed through interviews or yelled at by the hosts. Gone are the days of vigorous and honest debate. Either way, the reporters biased is shown and the entire broadcast is spent trying to persuade the viewer to one side or the other.
Is This Objective Journalism?
Yes, newscasters today are too opinionated and biased. Why is this? It is not just because they choose to be this way. It is because the American Public is no longer patient enough to listen through the days events and come to their own conclusion. It is too bad, back then Americans trusted the source of their news as being objective facts. Today, Americans question the newscasters' bias and tend to just look away. With everyone screaming, nobody wants to listen.
Do you think the news media is too biased today?
See results without votingRelated Hubs
- David Letterman is the toughest interview in the media
David Letterman: The toughest interview in town. The fall of the contemporary journalist. I was watching David Letterman last night and his main guest was former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Dave started...
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Thanks for reading.
I agree with Writely So. You did an excellent job on this! And I must say that I'm a little jealous on your execution. Keep up the good work!!
Thank you.
bg, Maybe the term "news" is no longer correct but be that as it may, television news has to be entertaining rather than informative or even accurate.
Good thought, and I like the photos.
I think your point is valid. Entertainment versus information. But then, who do we go to for information?
Thanks for reading.
Fox is conservative, very conservative, almost too conservative in fact. All the other major US networks seem to be liberal
I couldn't agree more. But conservative or liberal, my problem is they wear their agendas on their sleeves and instead of informing the public, they are trying to persuade. But to be fair to Fox, I think CNN is just as bad, as well as MSNBC.
All,
The question is "Informed about what"?
It is not so much that the media is spinning the news, I think it is more that we are not informed on the real important issues.
For example, The big news item is that Congress and the President are going to get the auto industry to shape up by major restructuring. Maybe the auto industry has problems but why don't we hear from the news that if the Federal Government was an auto industry they would have been out of business fifty years ago. All of the things Congress faults the auto industry for failing is only a fraction of the bad management that government has through Congress and the President. It doesn't natter which Congress or which President they have all been badly managed.
The point here is that no one is shining the interrogation light back on to the Congress and the President. Congress did a bang up job last year with their $700 billion bailout, didn't they. Congress, the President and the Presidential candidates all got caught in the headlights of the economic crisis. They were all hoping that nothing like that would happen until after the election.
The Emperor has no clothes.
Fair point, I think we agree. But I have yet to hear the details of the bill from any channel, really. Instead, I hear that it is horrible or great. (Actually read portions of the online version myself.) Thanks for your input.
bgpappa,
The pudding is already prepared,so as they say, the proof is in the pudding.
At this point, it either tastes good or it doesn't.
Expensive pudding should taste good.
fair point
Fox news is hysterically bad. I've only seen it when we've been on holiday, but it's entertainment rather than news (-:
I agree. But if you saw CNN during the election, they were outwardly Pro-Obama. While my politics was ok with this, my beleif in good journalism was horrified.
Thanks for reading
I didn't - we don't have any cable etc at home, so only see it when staying in hotels. And my other half adores Fox, it has him in stitches.
Fox makes me laugh too. Makes me mad too. The only thing it doesn't do is inform. The UK has some real good journalists. I read some stuff online sometimes.
Once upon a time, newscasters actually reported news. Now it's all tabloid.
I agree. Tabloid or political talking points.
You're confusing newscaster with pundit. Like all news anchors, Cronkite just read from a script that was written and edited by others.
Hannity, Dobbs et al are PUNDITS. They write all of their own material. They will take a news item and then make their comments. Networks get a nice pop in the ratings because these right wing dopes allow the typical ignorant, angry American to feel like they have a voice in the media. A media that these conservatives constantly tell them is "liberal" (LOL).
Fair point. But my point is that they are all pundits now, no more journalists. Everyone has an opinion and wants to push it on you: liberal and conservative alike.
Thanks for your comment.
Broadcasters have certainly changed the color, tone ad role of the media. Everything and anything is "Breaking News." News items are longer left to germinate and be fact checked; Intentions are questioned and it would be interesting to their responses and the roles been reversed. Once upon a time a critic was a "good finder." Some newscasters in their effort to boost ratings literally shake the grape vines for grapes and consequently also remove the blossoms. Newscasters shake 'News vines' every time they introduce a story with a negative lead inorder to hold attention. Recently, this lead was used: " Is the President safe? We will tell you when we come back." The news item was based on a book written by someone. Even it it were so, is this the type of information you would want to share with news world that contain terrorists?
Weundi,
All very good points. Fact checks seem to be done afterwards. Thanks for reading
| No Photo |
The News Casters, Ron Powers, Good Book
Current Bid: $50.00
|
|
Geraldo Rivera SIGNED TALK SHOW HOST NEWS CASTER
Current Bid: $30.00
|
|
THE NEWS CASTER, THE NEWS BUSINESS- RON POWERS
Current Bid: $1.00
|
Are today's Newscasters Too Opinionated and Biased? in the News
- Gender in Media: Females Don't RuleAnimation World Network1 second ago
Gender bias in media is a topic society has been tiptoeing around since the women's liberation movement of the 1960s.
- Not in a position to respond...Malta Today1 second ago
Industry experts referred to him as ‘intelligence working in fifth gear’. Joseph Muscat called him an ‘empty chair’. BWSC’s chief executive officer said that he is ‘his own man’. So far, the only person not to have commented on Joe Mizzi is...
- Mormon Media Observer: Info melts bias, Reid's high-stakes gameDeseret News2 hours ago
On MormonTimes.com: Most Mormons have long suspected what three political science professors have confirmed: Increased...
Writely So says:
10 months ago
bgpappa,
Very nicely done indeed. Than you.