From: jswitzer@afit.af.mil (Chip Switzer)
Subject: Re: Media bias
Keywords: bias
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 17:35:47 GMT


alex@umbc5.umbc.edu (Alex S. Crain) writes:
 
>In article <1992Jul23.162348.29281@afit.af.mil> jswitzer@afit.af.mil (Chip Switzer) writes:

>>Are conservatives part of your "public"?  If so, and if you've been listening,
>>you'd have to conclude that *we* are not getting what *we* want.  And please
>>discontinue the "boogie man" and "conspiracy" angles.  They just make you
>>look foolish.  I have no problem discussing the issues, but I will bow out if
>>the tone remains this immature.  I propose the "e" test.  Ask yourself, before
>>you bring up a point, if it will make you look as petty and downright stupid
>>as the person holding up the giant "e" during the Democratic convention.  Or
>>for that matter like all the speakers who felt the need to bring this
>>important issue up.

>       Fair 'nuff. Conservatives are indeed part of the public, but, I
>contend, not significant from a marketing point of view. Conservatives,
>for example, would detest every Oliver Stone movie ever made, but Mr.
>Stone continues to draw a huge audiance, in spite of the overt political
>overtones in his films. (Please don't mistake me for a fan, I detest every
>film he's ever made, with the exception of _Talk Radio_).

This is a compelling point.  I haven't seen the movie (nor will I) for 
precisely the political reasons you give.  And I stopped watching Designing 
Women some time ago when it ceased to be entertaining and merely a mouthpiece 
for the liberal agenda.  But I'm not boycotting them--I simply don't have time 
for "entertainment" that isn't entertaining.  However, the logic is not well 
thought out.  Even if half of America decided not to watch a particular movie, 
it would certainly not be the kiss of death.  I'm no movie industry expert, but I'd bet you rarely get half of America to see *any* movie (during its first 
run).
 
>       I also picked this side of the argument because so many of the
>opposing arguments are so awful. Why are the media biased? Because this
>commentator is a liberal, because this paper printed a slanted story,
>more anicdotal evidance. Chip will invariably bring up the statistics from
>FAIR, and ignore the fact that FAIR has a clearl conservative agenda. It
>boils down the the idea that most people are so convinced that the media
>is liberal that they don't even question the idea - it's an urban myth.
 
The following are excerpts (my editing) from a poll taken by the "Los Angeles
Times" in Feb, 1985. 2703 newspaper journalist and editorialists (top editors 
included) from 621 newpapers were polled. 

					Journalists	      Public
					-----------	      ------
Consider Self:			Liberal	    55%			23%
				Conserv.    17			29

President Reagan:		Favor	    30			56
				Oppose	    60			27

Govmnt Regulation of business:  Favor	    49			22
				Oppose      41			50

US withdraw investments from	Favor	    62			31
   South Africa:		Oppose	    29			27

Verifiable nuclear freeze:	Favor	    84			66
				Oppose	    13			22

Abortion:			Favor	    82			49
				Oppose	    14			44

Prayer in public schools: 	Favor	    25			74
				Oppose	    67			19

Affirmative Action		Favor	    81			56
				Oppose	    14			21

Death Penalty for murder:	Favor	    47			75
				Oppose	    47			17

Hiring homosexuals		Favor	    89			55
				Oppose	     7			31

Stricter handgun control 	Favor	    78			50
				Oppose	    19			41 

Hardly your representative sample of the American public... 

Another was taken of graduate journalism students at Columbia.  {Taken by 
Lichter, Lichter, (George Washington Univ., and Rothman Smith College)}.  
Granted, only one school, and there is surely another school (somewhere) 
with an opposite make-up.  But after looking at the above
figures, it's pretty easy to generalize these stats to *most* schools.  (For
sure the University of Washington, where I went to school.)
  
      85% believed they were liberal.
      90% of those who voted in 1972 voted for George McGovern.
      4% voted for Reagan in 1980.
      63% believed the government should guarantee jobs for everyone

In closing, let me say that I have not contended at any time that *all* of
the media is guilty of anything.  Nor do I believe that even the most liberal
journalists *always* slant the news (intentionally or not).  There is, 
however, a pronounced bias in the news media in general.  I believe most
liberals don't see it because it doesn't jump out at them by conflicting 
with something they hold dear.  It is, however, very obvious to anybody who
holds opposing views.  Also, none of this proves that the bias comes through
in their reporting (even though it does).  Please see my other posting 
today for evidence of that.

Rip this stuff up if you will.  I'll be gone for a week.  (So please don't 
flame me, Zach, if I happen to grab the coattails of a few discussions.)


Chip Switzer                            "A witty saying proves nothing." 
jswitzer@afit.af.mil                              -- Voltaire 
                        
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