1. We live in an age of increased connectivity with twitter and facebook both having an increased role in the news media. In your opinion, do you believe that this addition of public opinion into news programs helps to add credibility to the report? Or do you believe that the reporting should be left to those who are trained and have researched the subject matter? I ask this question because I think it is important to understand the areas that the news media could improve and where they are succeeding.
2. An integral part of our project is to understand the nature of the media. Some would argue that the media holds a conservative bias while others would find a liberal bias. In your opinion, does the media lean more towards the left or the right? I ask this because there are great debates about the position of the news media and I believe that an expert opinion could aid us in finding the answer.
3. Alongside news shows, channels such as MSNBC and FOX News often include opinionated talk shows with hosts such as Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly or Keith Olberman. These hosts are admittedly partisan and often act as either the research or communication arm for the major political parties. Do you believe that the growth of such opinion shows marks a step backwards for the news media as a whole? I ask this question because these opinion shows are very popular in today’s society and necessitate discussion.
4. It is important to note that any source of news media is a company with the driving force of profit, not the betterment of society. My question is, is it ever an issue to choose between increasing your profit or to report accurately on the news? So in essence, does the pursuit of accurate news stories ever impede upon the acquisition of profit? I ask this because I believe it should be known that the news companies are driven to make money.
5. A very powerful tool of news companies is the setting of the agenda, or to decide what stories are worth reporting on. It is also important to note that different media sources have different target audiences (FOX targets conservatives, CNN targets liberals etc.). Is there a specific target audience for CBS and do you ever see any evidence of agenda setting in order to draw a larger audience? I ask this question because it is important to understand who the media is targeting.
6. Another tactic of the news media to gain viewers is to sensationalize the news. Often, with the slogan “if it bleeds it leads”, the news focuses on stories with shock value that can capture the attention of viewers. Do you believe that sensationalism in the media presents an accurate view of society? I ask this question so that our audience can understand that sometimes, the news presented by the media does not represent society.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Interview Questions
1. We live in an age of increased connectivity with twitter and facebook both having an increased role in the news media. In your opinion, do you believe that this addition of public opinion into news programs helps to add credibility to the report? Or do you believe that the reporting should be left to those who are trained and have researched the subject matter? I ask this question because I think it is important to understand the areas that the news media could improve and where they are succeeding.
2. An integral part of our project is to understand the nature of the media. Some would argue that the media holds a conservative bias while others would find a liberal bias. In your opinion, does the media lean more towards the left or the right? I ask this because there are great debates about the position of the news media and I believe that an expert opinion could aid us in finding the answer.
3. Alongside news shows, channels such as MSNBC and FOX News often include opinionated talk shows with hosts such as Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly or Keith Olberman. These hosts are admittedly partisan and often act as either the research or communication arm for the major political parties. Do you believe that the growth of such opinion shows marks a step backwards for the news media as a whole? I ask this question because these opinion shows are very popular in today’s society and necessitate discussion.
4. It is important to note that any source of news media is a company with the driving force of profit, not the betterment of society. My question is, is it ever an issue to choose between increasing your profit or to report accurately on the news? So in essence, does the pursuit of accurate news stories ever impede upon the acquisition of profit? I ask this because I believe it should be known that the news companies are driven to make money.
5. A very powerful tool of news companies is the setting of the agenda, or to decide what stories are worth reporting on. It is also important to note that different media sources have different target audiences (FOX targets conservatives, CNN targets liberals etc.). Is there a specific target audience for CBS and do you ever see any evidence of agenda setting in order to draw a larger audience? I ask this question because it is important to understand who the media is targeting.
6. Another tactic of the news media to gain viewers is to sensationalize the news. Often, with the slogan “if it bleeds it leads”, the news focuses on stories with shock value that can capture the attention of viewers. Do you believe that sensationalism in the media presents an accurate view of society? I ask this question so that our audience can understand that sometimes, the news presented by the media does not represent society.
2. An integral part of our project is to understand the nature of the media. Some would argue that the media holds a conservative bias while others would find a liberal bias. In your opinion, does the media lean more towards the left or the right? I ask this because there are great debates about the position of the news media and I believe that an expert opinion could aid us in finding the answer.
3. Alongside news shows, channels such as MSNBC and FOX News often include opinionated talk shows with hosts such as Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly or Keith Olberman. These hosts are admittedly partisan and often act as either the research or communication arm for the major political parties. Do you believe that the growth of such opinion shows marks a step backwards for the news media as a whole? I ask this question because these opinion shows are very popular in today’s society and necessitate discussion.
4. It is important to note that any source of news media is a company with the driving force of profit, not the betterment of society. My question is, is it ever an issue to choose between increasing your profit or to report accurately on the news? So in essence, does the pursuit of accurate news stories ever impede upon the acquisition of profit? I ask this because I believe it should be known that the news companies are driven to make money.
5. A very powerful tool of news companies is the setting of the agenda, or to decide what stories are worth reporting on. It is also important to note that different media sources have different target audiences (FOX targets conservatives, CNN targets liberals etc.). Is there a specific target audience for CBS and do you ever see any evidence of agenda setting in order to draw a larger audience? I ask this question because it is important to understand who the media is targeting.
6. Another tactic of the news media to gain viewers is to sensationalize the news. Often, with the slogan “if it bleeds it leads”, the news focuses on stories with shock value that can capture the attention of viewers. Do you believe that sensationalism in the media presents an accurate view of society? I ask this question so that our audience can understand that sometimes, the news presented by the media does not represent society.
CST Handout
Catholic Social Teaching
As seen through
Media Bias
Prepared by Bill Keenan & Domenic Noto
CST #1-Life and Dignity of the Human Person
In the Catholic Social Teaching about the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, the church proclaims that the human life is sacred. There are many threats to human dignity such as racism, ignorance and blind hatred towards many groups. The church calls on us to be mindful of these threats and to do our best to curb these threats. Our subject can be related to the Life and Dignity of the Human Person because in skewing the truth, reporters effectively misguide the public.
http://www.magazine.ucla.edu/depts/quicktakes/media_bias_lino.jpg
CST #2-Call to Family, Community, and Participation
Catholic Social teaching #2, the Call to family, Community, and Participation is centered on the importance of relationships. It teaches that human dignity can only be recognized within the context of our relationships. It also teaches that everyone has a responsibility to contribute to the common good of the society. This can be related to media bias through the idea that the world news audience is a community. The bias in the media can have a direct effect to the call to community because it can hurt the world community of news viewers.
http://thebsreport.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/watching-tv.jpg
CST #3-Rights and Responsibilities
The Catholic Church teaches that there is a right to the common good, personal responsibility as well as social rights. This Catholic Social Teaching teaches that we must face problem in society with a strong moral vision and look out for those who do not have the privileges that we do. In relation to media bias, the reporters and members of the media all have the responsibility to report accurately and to not skew the news reports. Media bias is based on the individual gains of the biased reporter and is not based on the common good. http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/PageMill_Images/media_monkeys.jpg
CST #4- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
The Catholic Church also teaches a communal goal to respect those that do not have the means that the wealthy have. We are called on to follow in the foot steps of Jesus Christ and to give respect, dignity and assistance to the poor and vulnerable. It does not promote human dignity to lie about the news and to change the truth in order to meet your own economical, social or political goals. It is a specific goal of the Catholic Church to promote the welfare of those who cannot help themselves. http://maxdunbar.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/faux_news11.jpg
CST #5-Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Catholic Social Teaching #5, the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, proclaims the need to respect employees and the work that they do. The Church calls on us to make sure that all of our actions are geared towards the respect of these workers. The primary purpose of work is the acquisition of property to ones self. We need to acknowledge this purpose and to assist employees in their pursuit of necessary property. This CST relates to media bias because of the actions taken by reporters. Those who employ reporters and ask them to slant the news are actually taking their human dignity and are not respecting their right to be employed in a just job. http://www.merinews.com/upload/thumbimage/1220784054363_media_
CST # 6 – Solidarity
Catholic Social Teaching #6 has to do with solidarity. In this teaching, the Church emphasizes that we are all one human family. Because of this, we are all responsible for the well being of all other humans. The commandment of love thy neighbor is a major factor in this CST. When relating this teaching to media bias, the line connecting them has to do with the growing realm of communication. Today, news can be spread instantly across the internet and through television. This information can travel across the world in a matter of seconds. If the news is biased, it can affect the views of millions of people. That can have a large affect on the views and ideas of people. Since we are all called to help each other as a global community, media bias can affect the solidarity of our world.
http://radiopatriot.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/glenn-beck2.jpg
CST # 7 – Care for God’s Creation
Catholic Social teaching #7 focuses on how we must care for the world God has provided for us. God created a beautiful, wonderful place for us to live, and it is our job, as a people, to maintain his creation. In the injustice of media bias, CST #7 is relevant to the far reaching hand of the media. News can reach all over the world in a matter of seconds, and can have a dramatic affect on it in the same time. If people function off of slanted reports from news media, it can possibly affect important decisions that could lead to the damaging of our planet.
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/original/dan%20rather.jpg
As seen through
Media Bias
Prepared by Bill Keenan & Domenic Noto
CST #1-Life and Dignity of the Human Person
In the Catholic Social Teaching about the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, the church proclaims that the human life is sacred. There are many threats to human dignity such as racism, ignorance and blind hatred towards many groups. The church calls on us to be mindful of these threats and to do our best to curb these threats. Our subject can be related to the Life and Dignity of the Human Person because in skewing the truth, reporters effectively misguide the public.
http://www.magazine.ucla.edu/depts/quicktakes/media_bias_lino.jpg
CST #2-Call to Family, Community, and Participation
Catholic Social teaching #2, the Call to family, Community, and Participation is centered on the importance of relationships. It teaches that human dignity can only be recognized within the context of our relationships. It also teaches that everyone has a responsibility to contribute to the common good of the society. This can be related to media bias through the idea that the world news audience is a community. The bias in the media can have a direct effect to the call to community because it can hurt the world community of news viewers.
http://thebsreport.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/watching-tv.jpg
CST #3-Rights and Responsibilities
The Catholic Church teaches that there is a right to the common good, personal responsibility as well as social rights. This Catholic Social Teaching teaches that we must face problem in society with a strong moral vision and look out for those who do not have the privileges that we do. In relation to media bias, the reporters and members of the media all have the responsibility to report accurately and to not skew the news reports. Media bias is based on the individual gains of the biased reporter and is not based on the common good. http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/PageMill_Images/media_monkeys.jpg
CST #4- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
The Catholic Church also teaches a communal goal to respect those that do not have the means that the wealthy have. We are called on to follow in the foot steps of Jesus Christ and to give respect, dignity and assistance to the poor and vulnerable. It does not promote human dignity to lie about the news and to change the truth in order to meet your own economical, social or political goals. It is a specific goal of the Catholic Church to promote the welfare of those who cannot help themselves. http://maxdunbar.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/faux_news11.jpg
CST #5-Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Catholic Social Teaching #5, the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, proclaims the need to respect employees and the work that they do. The Church calls on us to make sure that all of our actions are geared towards the respect of these workers. The primary purpose of work is the acquisition of property to ones self. We need to acknowledge this purpose and to assist employees in their pursuit of necessary property. This CST relates to media bias because of the actions taken by reporters. Those who employ reporters and ask them to slant the news are actually taking their human dignity and are not respecting their right to be employed in a just job. http://www.merinews.com/upload/thumbimage/1220784054363_media_
CST # 6 – Solidarity
Catholic Social Teaching #6 has to do with solidarity. In this teaching, the Church emphasizes that we are all one human family. Because of this, we are all responsible for the well being of all other humans. The commandment of love thy neighbor is a major factor in this CST. When relating this teaching to media bias, the line connecting them has to do with the growing realm of communication. Today, news can be spread instantly across the internet and through television. This information can travel across the world in a matter of seconds. If the news is biased, it can affect the views of millions of people. That can have a large affect on the views and ideas of people. Since we are all called to help each other as a global community, media bias can affect the solidarity of our world.
http://radiopatriot.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/glenn-beck2.jpg
CST # 7 – Care for God’s Creation
Catholic Social teaching #7 focuses on how we must care for the world God has provided for us. God created a beautiful, wonderful place for us to live, and it is our job, as a people, to maintain his creation. In the injustice of media bias, CST #7 is relevant to the far reaching hand of the media. News can reach all over the world in a matter of seconds, and can have a dramatic affect on it in the same time. If people function off of slanted reports from news media, it can possibly affect important decisions that could lead to the damaging of our planet.
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/original/dan%20rather.jpg
Narrative
During the latter half of the twentieth century, a trend began that negatively affected the youth of America. During the last 40 years, the role of women in the workforce has dramatically increased. Because of this, more women are getting day jobs, and thus being away from the house more then women in the past. Because of this, a large portion of American children are being left at home alone, more often, and for longer than any other time in history. The media did not have anything to do with the cause of this injustice. But the inaction of the media allowed this injustice to continue.
To the media, a story about the amount of children being left alone at home was not sensationalized enough to attract viewers. But a story about the struggle for the custody of a defected Cuban citizen is attractive enough. That is why the Elian Gonzalez story was more important to media outlets than the troubling story about the children of America being left alone. While all Americans watched Elian Gonzalez' family plead for him back, and witnessed people debating where he should be allowed to live, American children were suffering from being left at home alone. This problem is emphasized when looking at the suicide rates of teens. Between 1970 and 1988, a peak time when mothers were entering the work force and leaving home, the suicide rate for teenage girls rose 27 percent, and the suicide rate for teenage males rose a startling 71 percent. This all occurred because children were left at home alone. If the media had decided to cover it numerous teenage lives could have been saved.
The news media have had chances to discuss this issue on the air. But every time it could have been aired, the media elites shot down the idea. In 2001, the government released a study that toddlers that are placed in day care for long stretches of time tend to be more aggressive and defiant, regardless of the quality of the daycare. This same study states that 17 percent of children who attend day care centers act out more often than children who do not attend day care. The media elites (Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, and Peter Jennings) could have used this study to launch a series of news stories that would have enlightened the American public on this issue. But they didn’t. Instead, Dan Rather twice called this story “controversial.” The man who had the opportunity to reveal a major problem in American society failed to because he believed that a government study was controversial.
And then there is the political side of this story. Once outspoken feminist leaders heard about this study, they immediately dubbed it as sexist. This added an extra element to the story that the news elite planned on showing. Because of the power that feminists have in modern politics, Rather and his colleagues knew that if they aired a story which insinuated that women should stay home and provide for their children instead of become a member of the work force would paint them as sexists. So to avoid the pressure and negative attention they would have received, the media elites instead decided to not air these stories at all. This is a real injustice because it affected the lives of the thousands of teenagers who were being left alone at home. If the media had covered the story, the problem could have been aided. Instead, political ideals got in the way of helping people. In the end, it led to pain and suffering.
This trend has continued since these studies were published, and there are very few people who are doing anything about it. This is a troubling idea because the teenagers who are being left alone are the future of society. This injustice is very troubling due to that fact. If the future leaders of our country and other important members of society are damaged due to a terrible childhood, their entire lives can be affected. So if these teenagers are not given help, the consequences could be very drastic for the future of society.
To the media, a story about the amount of children being left alone at home was not sensationalized enough to attract viewers. But a story about the struggle for the custody of a defected Cuban citizen is attractive enough. That is why the Elian Gonzalez story was more important to media outlets than the troubling story about the children of America being left alone. While all Americans watched Elian Gonzalez' family plead for him back, and witnessed people debating where he should be allowed to live, American children were suffering from being left at home alone. This problem is emphasized when looking at the suicide rates of teens. Between 1970 and 1988, a peak time when mothers were entering the work force and leaving home, the suicide rate for teenage girls rose 27 percent, and the suicide rate for teenage males rose a startling 71 percent. This all occurred because children were left at home alone. If the media had decided to cover it numerous teenage lives could have been saved.
The news media have had chances to discuss this issue on the air. But every time it could have been aired, the media elites shot down the idea. In 2001, the government released a study that toddlers that are placed in day care for long stretches of time tend to be more aggressive and defiant, regardless of the quality of the daycare. This same study states that 17 percent of children who attend day care centers act out more often than children who do not attend day care. The media elites (Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, and Peter Jennings) could have used this study to launch a series of news stories that would have enlightened the American public on this issue. But they didn’t. Instead, Dan Rather twice called this story “controversial.” The man who had the opportunity to reveal a major problem in American society failed to because he believed that a government study was controversial.
And then there is the political side of this story. Once outspoken feminist leaders heard about this study, they immediately dubbed it as sexist. This added an extra element to the story that the news elite planned on showing. Because of the power that feminists have in modern politics, Rather and his colleagues knew that if they aired a story which insinuated that women should stay home and provide for their children instead of become a member of the work force would paint them as sexists. So to avoid the pressure and negative attention they would have received, the media elites instead decided to not air these stories at all. This is a real injustice because it affected the lives of the thousands of teenagers who were being left alone at home. If the media had covered the story, the problem could have been aided. Instead, political ideals got in the way of helping people. In the end, it led to pain and suffering.
This trend has continued since these studies were published, and there are very few people who are doing anything about it. This is a troubling idea because the teenagers who are being left alone are the future of society. This injustice is very troubling due to that fact. If the future leaders of our country and other important members of society are damaged due to a terrible childhood, their entire lives can be affected. So if these teenagers are not given help, the consequences could be very drastic for the future of society.
Action Reflection bill Keenan
In our project on media bias, I took the action of writing a letter to my congressman, Jackie Speier. I chose to write to Congresswoman Speier because I felt that it was the most effective way to have my voice heard. I know that it is in the best interest of representatives to listen to their constituents so I knew that she would listen to what I had to say. I wrote in my letter that I was disappointed in the fact that there is no law regulating the news media. I requested that Congresswoman Speier initiate a reform to make the news media responsible for the information that they report on. I believe that it is important to ensure the validity of the information that we receive.
With my action, I hope to achieve a measure of acknowledgement from Congresswoman Speier that her constituents are concerned with the issue of media bias. At the most, I would hope that this would encourage her to initiate a reform to hold the news media accountable for their actions. In the very least, I would hope that my letter would simply let her know that her constituents care about this issue and hope for change. I believe that I was successful in my action because the letter was sent to Congresswoman Speier and I believe it is her responsibility as an elected official to listen to her constituents.
In the future, I see myself becoming involved in the issue of bias within the media. In particular, I think that the best way to become involved is to actively investigate the sources of my information. This project helped me to realize that there is always a possibility for information to be skewed. From this moment on, I will always actively demonstrate my belief in a need for regulation of the validity of the news media. I also know that my vote matters and I will vote for officials that will face media bias head on.
With my action, I hope to achieve a measure of acknowledgement from Congresswoman Speier that her constituents are concerned with the issue of media bias. At the most, I would hope that this would encourage her to initiate a reform to hold the news media accountable for their actions. In the very least, I would hope that my letter would simply let her know that her constituents care about this issue and hope for change. I believe that I was successful in my action because the letter was sent to Congresswoman Speier and I believe it is her responsibility as an elected official to listen to her constituents.
In the future, I see myself becoming involved in the issue of bias within the media. In particular, I think that the best way to become involved is to actively investigate the sources of my information. This project helped me to realize that there is always a possibility for information to be skewed. From this moment on, I will always actively demonstrate my belief in a need for regulation of the validity of the news media. I also know that my vote matters and I will vote for officials that will face media bias head on.
Background: Media bias
The experience shown in the narrative is just one example of how media bias can affect one’s life. The news media is the cumulative body by which information is delivered to individuals within a population. Media bias is a slant within the news media that includes opinions instead of facts. Media bias in many ways can produce injustices. Also, the news media has an unrivaled ability to affect the lives of ordinary citizens by reporting opinion as fact. Some of the injustices that we will be investigating are: the fact that reporters can be fired from their jobs when they refuse to lie in the news, the manipulation of naïve people by untruthful broadcasts and the sensationalism of the news media.
The first injustice that we will be investigating is that people are being fired from their jobs due to media bias. People have come to expect that an industry specializing in the distribution of news should be free from personal bias. Most news programs even advertise the fact that they produce even, unbiased news like Fox News whose slogan is Fair and Balanced. The fact remains, however, that most news channels are heavily influenced by the biased opinions of program hosts, writers and producers. People employed within these biased companies find themselves at the center of a complicated situation: either conform to the status quo, or be fired. It is not fair that these men and women must choose between keeping their jobs and keeping their integrity. An example of this injustice is seen within Fox News Channel as reporters have claimed that they were asked by the producers to openly lie on television, when these reporters refused to lie, they were promptly fired (Greenwald). The courts have even ruled that there is no current law on the books outlawing telling lies on a news program. Former Fox reporter Jon Du Pre claims that he was released from the employ of Fox after his broadcast of the opening of the Reagan Presidential Library wasn’t “celebratory enough” (Greenwald).
The next injustice produced by the bias within the media is the purposeful manipulation of the naïve. During the broadcasts of many news shows, the programs themselves contain inflammatory speech and suggestive comments. Though these comments appear innocent enough to average viewers, they often contain harmful or evocative imagery. Rush Limbaugh stated on his show that there are “gazillions of similarities between National Socialism in Germany and Obama’s healthcare plan” (Lederman). This statement takes advantage of the naïveté of those ignorant of President Obama’s plan. By taking advantage of these naïve people, Rush Limbaugh is able to effectively control their opinions. Bill O’Reilly, a Fox News Host, was found in a study by Indiana University to use a derogatory name every 6.8 seconds during his broadcast (Ingram). Other news sources such as Rush Limbaugh knowingly distort the truth in order for their own views to be progressed. One clear example of the intentional distortion of the truth in order to advance oneself involves Glenn Beck. Beck became a paid spokesperson for a company called “Goldline International” (Ingram). Months later, Beck began to feature the CEO of the company on his show, read live commercials during his radio broadcast, all while feeding his viewers fears about the instability of the dollar. The article written by Ingram also states that most of the revenue for news programs comes from commercial advertisers and not from the viewers, calling into question the reporters objectivity. This particular instance shows a conflict presented to Glenn Beck where he had to decide between legitimacy and monetary endorsements.
The last injustice we will be examining that was made by media bias is the sensationalism of the news. In recent years, local and national news have been observed to have shifted their focus onto news stories containing some form of eye-catching information. This shift in the news has also come with consequences. When using this eye-catching news, the media can focus on stereotypes that breed fear in the viewer. Within his news broadcast Glenn Beck, while talking about Barack Obama, stated that “I’ve been saying that we’re headed towards a Mussolini-style presidency forever” (Lederman). In connecting Obama with a fascist dictator, Glenn Beck created an unfair connotation towards a political opponent. While causing the viewer to return to the news channel for more news, this strategy can also perpetuate wrong stereotypes, like that all black men are dangerous and should be avoided. Michael Moore presents in his documentary a theory that shows such as “Cops” focus on minorities in order to play to stereotypes and to get more viewers to watch (Moore). Also, sensationalism of the news comes into play during news broadcasts: “Ann Coulter, as a guest on Hannity and Colmes, called Obama’s autobiography a ‘dime store Mein Kampf’” (Lederman). The oppressed in this injustice are the minorities who have public opinion shaped by sensationalized news. People may make racial judgments on people depending on what they had heard on the nightly news.
The oppressors in the case of media bias are those news reporters, producers and hosts that intentionally bend the news in order to further their own political, economic or other agendas. These oppressors show themselves as liberators or prophets that tell of an impending doom. Using this strategy, show hosts such as Keith Olberman, Rachel Maddow, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly can effectively present their own opinions disguised as facts. Indiana University researchers have stated from a report that “the Fox News personality consistently paints certain people and groups as villains and others as victims to present the world, as he sees it, through political rhetoric”(Ingram). Through rhetoric, it is easy for these oppressors to increase their foundation of supporters and to mislead them.
The social systems involved in media bias are the shows themselves. Within their own shows, news hosts try to paint themselves as crusaders against some form of injustice. By presenting themselves as social crusaders, these hosts are able to gain wide support for themselves. Another system involved in media bias is the existence of companies that own news channels. For example, Fox News is owned by Rupert Murdoch. The political views of this one owner have the possibility of influencing every employee in the news channel under threat of losing their jobs.
The response of the world has mostly been one of apathy. Most people seem complacent with the fact that there is a persistent bias within our media. It must be acknowledged that the fault of media bias cannot solely be laid upon the heads of those perpetuating the bias. A portion of the blame should also be placed on those who know of the media bias and continue to watch the programming. However, there are people who do acknowledge that media bias is a problem that must be addressed. Although containing bias within their satirical comedy program, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have become some of the most prominent muckrakers for the accuracy of the news industry. Often, it is said that the media has a liberal or conservative bias. While this is true, the media is filled with many opinionated reporters that are biased towards many views. This makes the bias within our media indistinguishable between conservative or liberal.
When dealing with media bias, it is important to note that media bias has the potential to affect almost every household in America due to the widespread availability of news programming. Almost every household in America actively watches, reads or listens to some form of news. This fact makes it even more important to know the far reaching effects of media bias. Media bias can affect people’s employment, naïve people’s opinions and how people view others, due to sensationalized news.
The first injustice that we will be investigating is that people are being fired from their jobs due to media bias. People have come to expect that an industry specializing in the distribution of news should be free from personal bias. Most news programs even advertise the fact that they produce even, unbiased news like Fox News whose slogan is Fair and Balanced. The fact remains, however, that most news channels are heavily influenced by the biased opinions of program hosts, writers and producers. People employed within these biased companies find themselves at the center of a complicated situation: either conform to the status quo, or be fired. It is not fair that these men and women must choose between keeping their jobs and keeping their integrity. An example of this injustice is seen within Fox News Channel as reporters have claimed that they were asked by the producers to openly lie on television, when these reporters refused to lie, they were promptly fired (Greenwald). The courts have even ruled that there is no current law on the books outlawing telling lies on a news program. Former Fox reporter Jon Du Pre claims that he was released from the employ of Fox after his broadcast of the opening of the Reagan Presidential Library wasn’t “celebratory enough” (Greenwald).
The next injustice produced by the bias within the media is the purposeful manipulation of the naïve. During the broadcasts of many news shows, the programs themselves contain inflammatory speech and suggestive comments. Though these comments appear innocent enough to average viewers, they often contain harmful or evocative imagery. Rush Limbaugh stated on his show that there are “gazillions of similarities between National Socialism in Germany and Obama’s healthcare plan” (Lederman). This statement takes advantage of the naïveté of those ignorant of President Obama’s plan. By taking advantage of these naïve people, Rush Limbaugh is able to effectively control their opinions. Bill O’Reilly, a Fox News Host, was found in a study by Indiana University to use a derogatory name every 6.8 seconds during his broadcast (Ingram). Other news sources such as Rush Limbaugh knowingly distort the truth in order for their own views to be progressed. One clear example of the intentional distortion of the truth in order to advance oneself involves Glenn Beck. Beck became a paid spokesperson for a company called “Goldline International” (Ingram). Months later, Beck began to feature the CEO of the company on his show, read live commercials during his radio broadcast, all while feeding his viewers fears about the instability of the dollar. The article written by Ingram also states that most of the revenue for news programs comes from commercial advertisers and not from the viewers, calling into question the reporters objectivity. This particular instance shows a conflict presented to Glenn Beck where he had to decide between legitimacy and monetary endorsements.
The last injustice we will be examining that was made by media bias is the sensationalism of the news. In recent years, local and national news have been observed to have shifted their focus onto news stories containing some form of eye-catching information. This shift in the news has also come with consequences. When using this eye-catching news, the media can focus on stereotypes that breed fear in the viewer. Within his news broadcast Glenn Beck, while talking about Barack Obama, stated that “I’ve been saying that we’re headed towards a Mussolini-style presidency forever” (Lederman). In connecting Obama with a fascist dictator, Glenn Beck created an unfair connotation towards a political opponent. While causing the viewer to return to the news channel for more news, this strategy can also perpetuate wrong stereotypes, like that all black men are dangerous and should be avoided. Michael Moore presents in his documentary a theory that shows such as “Cops” focus on minorities in order to play to stereotypes and to get more viewers to watch (Moore). Also, sensationalism of the news comes into play during news broadcasts: “Ann Coulter, as a guest on Hannity and Colmes, called Obama’s autobiography a ‘dime store Mein Kampf’” (Lederman). The oppressed in this injustice are the minorities who have public opinion shaped by sensationalized news. People may make racial judgments on people depending on what they had heard on the nightly news.
The oppressors in the case of media bias are those news reporters, producers and hosts that intentionally bend the news in order to further their own political, economic or other agendas. These oppressors show themselves as liberators or prophets that tell of an impending doom. Using this strategy, show hosts such as Keith Olberman, Rachel Maddow, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly can effectively present their own opinions disguised as facts. Indiana University researchers have stated from a report that “the Fox News personality consistently paints certain people and groups as villains and others as victims to present the world, as he sees it, through political rhetoric”(Ingram). Through rhetoric, it is easy for these oppressors to increase their foundation of supporters and to mislead them.
The social systems involved in media bias are the shows themselves. Within their own shows, news hosts try to paint themselves as crusaders against some form of injustice. By presenting themselves as social crusaders, these hosts are able to gain wide support for themselves. Another system involved in media bias is the existence of companies that own news channels. For example, Fox News is owned by Rupert Murdoch. The political views of this one owner have the possibility of influencing every employee in the news channel under threat of losing their jobs.
The response of the world has mostly been one of apathy. Most people seem complacent with the fact that there is a persistent bias within our media. It must be acknowledged that the fault of media bias cannot solely be laid upon the heads of those perpetuating the bias. A portion of the blame should also be placed on those who know of the media bias and continue to watch the programming. However, there are people who do acknowledge that media bias is a problem that must be addressed. Although containing bias within their satirical comedy program, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have become some of the most prominent muckrakers for the accuracy of the news industry. Often, it is said that the media has a liberal or conservative bias. While this is true, the media is filled with many opinionated reporters that are biased towards many views. This makes the bias within our media indistinguishable between conservative or liberal.
When dealing with media bias, it is important to note that media bias has the potential to affect almost every household in America due to the widespread availability of news programming. Almost every household in America actively watches, reads or listens to some form of news. This fact makes it even more important to know the far reaching effects of media bias. Media bias can affect people’s employment, naïve people’s opinions and how people view others, due to sensationalized news.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Third Post Assignment
CST #3-Rights and Responsibilities
The Catholic Church teaches that there is a right to the common good, personal responsibility as well as social rights. This Catholic Social Teaching teaches that we must face problem in society with a strong moral vision and look out for those who do not have the privileges that we do. In relation to media bias, the reporters and members of the media all have the responsibility to report accurately and to not skew the news reports. It is the right of the public to the common good, and media bias leads the public away from that common good. Media bias is based on the individual gains of the biased reporter and is not based on the common good. When the media intentionally changes our perception of the truth, it leads to a society lacking the third CST.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/PageMill_Images/media_monkeys.jpg
CST #4- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
The Catholic Church also teaches a communal goal to respect those that do not have the means that the wealthy have. We are called on to follow in the foot steps of Jesus Christ and to give respect, dignity and assistance to the poor and vulnerable. In our project, the poor and vulnerable people are those who are persuaded by the media to change their point of view. It does not promote human dignity to lie about the news and to change the truth in order to meet your own economical, social or political goals. It is a specific goal of the Catholic Church to promote the welfare of those who cannot help themselves. This goal is contrary to media bias because bias does not have the assistance of the vulnerable in its overall goal.
http://maxdunbar.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/faux_news11.jpg
CST #5-Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Catholic Social Teaching #5, the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, proclaims the need to respect employees and the work that they do. The Church calls on us to make sure that all of our actions are geared towards the respect of these workers. The primary purpose of work is the acquisition of property to ones self. We need to acknowledge this purpose and to assist employees in their pursuit of necessary property. This CST relates to media bias because of the actions taken by reporters. Those who employ reporters and ask them to slant the news are actually taking their human dignity and are not respecting their right to be employed in a just job.
http://www.merinews.com/upload/thumbimage/1220784054363_media_t.bmp
CST # 6 – Solidarity
Catholic Social Teaching #6 has to do with solidarity. In this teaching, the Church emphasizes that we are all one human family. Because of this, we are all responsible for the well being of all other humans. The commandment of love thy neighbor is a major factor in this CST. When relating this teaching to media bias, the line connecting them has to do with the growing realm of communication. Today, news can be spread instantly across the internet and through television. This information can travel across the world in a matter of seconds. If the news is biased, it can affect the views of millions of people. That can have a large affect on the views and ideas of people. Since we are all called to help each other as a global community, media bias can affect the solidarity of our world.
http://radiopatriot.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/glenn-beck2.jpg
CST # 7 – Care for God’s Creation
Catholic Social teaching #7 focuses on how we must care for the world God has provided for us. God created a beautiful, wonderful place for us to live, and it is our job, as a people, to maintain his creation. In the injustice of media bias, CST #7 is relevant to the far reaching hand of the media. News can reach all over the world in a matter of seconds, and can have a dramatic affect on it in the same time. If people function off of slanted reports from news media, it can possibly affect important decisions that could lead to the damaging of our planet.
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/original/dan%20rather.jpg
The Catholic Church teaches that there is a right to the common good, personal responsibility as well as social rights. This Catholic Social Teaching teaches that we must face problem in society with a strong moral vision and look out for those who do not have the privileges that we do. In relation to media bias, the reporters and members of the media all have the responsibility to report accurately and to not skew the news reports. It is the right of the public to the common good, and media bias leads the public away from that common good. Media bias is based on the individual gains of the biased reporter and is not based on the common good. When the media intentionally changes our perception of the truth, it leads to a society lacking the third CST.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/PageMill_Images/media_monkeys.jpg
CST #4- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
The Catholic Church also teaches a communal goal to respect those that do not have the means that the wealthy have. We are called on to follow in the foot steps of Jesus Christ and to give respect, dignity and assistance to the poor and vulnerable. In our project, the poor and vulnerable people are those who are persuaded by the media to change their point of view. It does not promote human dignity to lie about the news and to change the truth in order to meet your own economical, social or political goals. It is a specific goal of the Catholic Church to promote the welfare of those who cannot help themselves. This goal is contrary to media bias because bias does not have the assistance of the vulnerable in its overall goal.
http://maxdunbar.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/faux_news11.jpg
CST #5-Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Catholic Social Teaching #5, the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, proclaims the need to respect employees and the work that they do. The Church calls on us to make sure that all of our actions are geared towards the respect of these workers. The primary purpose of work is the acquisition of property to ones self. We need to acknowledge this purpose and to assist employees in their pursuit of necessary property. This CST relates to media bias because of the actions taken by reporters. Those who employ reporters and ask them to slant the news are actually taking their human dignity and are not respecting their right to be employed in a just job.
http://www.merinews.com/upload/thumbimage/1220784054363_media_t.bmp
CST # 6 – Solidarity
Catholic Social Teaching #6 has to do with solidarity. In this teaching, the Church emphasizes that we are all one human family. Because of this, we are all responsible for the well being of all other humans. The commandment of love thy neighbor is a major factor in this CST. When relating this teaching to media bias, the line connecting them has to do with the growing realm of communication. Today, news can be spread instantly across the internet and through television. This information can travel across the world in a matter of seconds. If the news is biased, it can affect the views of millions of people. That can have a large affect on the views and ideas of people. Since we are all called to help each other as a global community, media bias can affect the solidarity of our world.
http://radiopatriot.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/glenn-beck2.jpg
CST # 7 – Care for God’s Creation
Catholic Social teaching #7 focuses on how we must care for the world God has provided for us. God created a beautiful, wonderful place for us to live, and it is our job, as a people, to maintain his creation. In the injustice of media bias, CST #7 is relevant to the far reaching hand of the media. News can reach all over the world in a matter of seconds, and can have a dramatic affect on it in the same time. If people function off of slanted reports from news media, it can possibly affect important decisions that could lead to the damaging of our planet.
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/original/dan%20rather.jpg
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