To combat the charges that the government exerts too much influence, the media is often portrayed as overly liberal and overly critical of government in general. But research into the attitudes of reporters reveal that while they are a bit more inclined to vote Democratic than the general population, no significant and persistent relationship exists between reporters and liberal tendencies. In general, the social characteristics of journalists mirror those of other professionals. The examples of corporate and government influence seem quite remote from the everyday business of reporting the news. Journalists and announcers strive for objective or unbiased reporting, but often the sources from whom reporters derive their stories present problems.
Television emphasizes the dramatic and the personal.
The print media focuses on institutions, issues, and policies, generally giving more facts and information than does television. Despite these differences, the similarities among media are striking. Also, pack journalism occurs when reporters cooperate with each other and develop, most likely unwittingly, a collective sense of what a story means and how it should be reported. Although the news media are affected by outside influences, they are more than a membrane through which other elites pass their own views. The complaints of elected politicians point to the independent and sometimes combative role of the media.