Liberal bias

{{media}}
{{cquote|''[[Reality]] has a well-known liberal bias.''|||[[Stephen Colbert]]<ref>[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/04/30/206303/-Re-Improved-Colbert-transcript-now-with-complete-text-of-Colbert-Thomas-video Re-Improved Colbert transcript (now with complete text of Colbert-Thomas video!)] (30 April 2006) ''Daily Kos''.</ref>}}

'''Liberal bias''' is a term used in two ways. First, the most obvious and realistic:
#A bias towards [[Social liberalism|liberal]] political views.

Second, as conservative pundits [[Manufactroversy|seem to understand it]]:
:2.1. Where an issue is presented in such a way as to downplay points of view expressed by [[conservative]]s
:2.2. A [[Demonization|pejorative]] to describe any [[fact]] or opinion that conservatives don't like
:2.3. Lies from the [[Satan|Devil]] intended to lead you away from [[Conservative bias|their political agenda]]
:2.4. Facts

The first definition is fairly straightforward. It is true that some news organizations do have a left-leaning stance, just as a number of news organizations have a right-leaning stance; one can't read ''[[The Guardian]]'' or watch [[Rachel Maddow]] without feeling a leftward lean, but they at least usually acknowledge this fact. However, the second definition is far more interesting, as it tells one something about the attitudes of some pundits and commentators to things that they don't agree with.

A likely explanation for the belief among conservatives of a liberal bias in news and [[social media]] is that conservatives are more likely to believe and report [[fake news]]. Two separate [[peer-reviewed]] analyses have confirmed this, one in 2001<ref>[https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abf1234 Conservatives’ susceptibility to political misperceptions] by R. Kelly Garrett & Robert M. Bond (2021) ''Science Advances'' 7(23). doi:10.1126/sciadv.abf1234.</ref><ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/02/health/conservatives-false-news-study/index.html Conservatives more likely to believe false news, new study finds] by Maggie Fox (7:44 PM EDT, Wed June 2, 2021) ''CNN''.</ref> and one in 2024.<ref>[https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07942-8 Differences in misinformation sharing can lead to politically asymmetric sanctions] by Mohsen Mosleh et al. (2024) ''Nature'' s41586-024-07942-8. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07942-8.</ref>

==From a conservative POV==
The [[American]] [[right-wing|right]], for example, occupies half of the [[political spectrum|ideological spectrum]] and ranges from doctrinaire conservatives all the way to goose-stepping [[Neo-Nazi]]s and [[Dominionists]] who have little to no idea what "[[morality]]" actually means. What they share is a contempt for the grievances of the left-wing, some of which survive news coverage filters. A common tactic of many [[wingnuts]] is to [[Denialism|dismiss news stories and facts]] if they consider them to be written in such a way that they distort the truth and present the story with a "liberal" slant. Many commentators are quick to use the argument that any story that doesn't fit with their preconceived notions or understanding of an issue must be wrong, and thus it has a liberal (or other) bias and is actually pushing an agenda — whereas they, of course, are being impartial.

There is a long history of accusing the media of a liberal bias, mainly as a method to discredit critics without having to disprove the point they make (''[[ad hominem]]''). Papers that supported the [[civil rights]] movement and [[Trade union|labor union]] movement in the United States were frequently accused of having liberal and/or [[Red Scare|communist leanings]] by conservatives. In [[South Africa]], anti-[[apartheid]] news outlets were accused of having liberal biases and providing ideological support for the anti-apartheid movement. Unsurprisingly, they were frequently subjected to government censorship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/restrictions-media|title=Restrictions on the media: a reflection on journalism|publisher=South Africa History Online|date=January 17, 2012}}</ref>

The accusation of a liberal bias in the media has become so widespread in conservative circles and conversation that the term "Mainstream Media" ([[MSM]]) is largely a colloquialism for "[[liberal media]]", and briefly as "lamestream media" by reality-impaired former [[Alaska]] governor and Vice Presidential candidate [[Sarah Palin]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/tech-brief/ Palin trashes 'lamestream media'] by Andy Barr (11/18/2009 07:29 PM EST) ''Politico''.</ref>

Organizations that conservatives frequently accuse of being liberal:
{{collist|2|
*ABC<ref>[http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/abc-shows-its-bias-in-palin-interview/ ABC Shows its Bias in Palin Interview] by Kirsten Powers (September 12, 2008) ''Doctor Bulldog & Ronin''.</ref>
*Associated Press (AP)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120517064745/http://apcheck.blogspot.com/ Associated Press False Headline: Romney 'Counters' Bullying Claim] (5/10/12) ''Associated Press Check'' (archived from May 17, 2012).</ref>
*[[BBC]]<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9475479/Heres-how-we-counter-the-BBCs-liberal-bias.html Here’s how we counter the BBC’s liberal bias: The Guardian-reading elite is waiting to hear from Right-thinking writers and comedians] by Daniel Hannan (4 August 2012 • 6:58pm) ''The Telegraph''.</ref>
*CBS<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060608073949/http://www.mrc.org/Profiles/wallace/welcome.asp CBS's Mike Wallace: Too Many Minutes of Liberal Bias] ''Media Research Center'' (archived from June 8, 2006).</ref>
*[[CNN]]<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/596980/posts Confronting liberal bias as it occurs (CNN Gets Zinged)] by PJ-Comix (12/26/2001, 4:59:29 AM) ''Media Research Center'' via ''Free Republic''.</ref>
*[[MSNBC]]<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/31/us/politics/msnbc-as-foxs-liberal-evil-twin.html How MSNBC Became Fox’s Liberal Evil Twin] by Alessandra Stanley (August 31, 2012) ''The New York Times''.</ref>
*NBC<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081013200157/http://www.mrc.org/cyberalerts/2007/cyb20070216.asp#1 NBC Denies Liberal Bias As It Elevates Olbermann to Nightly News] ''Media Research Center'' (archived from October 13, 2008).</ref>
*''[[The New York Times]]''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091026010129/http://www.newsrealblog.com/2009/10/21/liberal-bias-is-killing-the-new-york-times/ Liberal Bias is Killing the New York Times] by Claude Cartaginese (2009 October 21) ''David Horowitz Newsreal'' (archived from October 26, 2009).</ref>
*[[NPR]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070703010138/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_200311/ai_n9317144/ NPR admits a liberal bias] by L. Brent Bozell III (Nov 10, 2003) ''Find Articles'' (archived from July 3, 2007).</ref>
*[[PBS]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110414120814/http://www.creators.com/opinion/brent-bozell/back-to-bias-basics-at-pbs.html Back to Bias Basics at PBS] by L. Brent Bozell III (2007) ''Creators.com'' (archived from April 14, 2011).</ref>
*''[[The Washington Post]]''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081108235431/http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2008/11/08/washington-post-admits-bias-towards-obama Washington Post Admits Bias Towards Obama]  by Noel Sheppard (November 8, 2008 - 11:07 ET) ''NewsBusters'' (archived from November 8, 2008).</ref>
*[[Yahoo]]<ref>The comment section alone will tell you this.</ref>

*Anything not owned by [[Rupert Murdoch]]
*[[Fox News|Some things]] that ''are'' owned by Rupert Murdoch<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140730122206/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/fox-liberal-kelsey-grammer-backs-upstart-right-wing-tv-network-rightnetwork-article-1.163294 Fox too liberal for you? Kelsey Grammer backs upstart right-wing TV network, RightNetwork] by Richard Huff (April 19, 2010, 1:47 PM) ''Daily News'' (archived from July 30, 2014).</ref>
}}

==Other liberally curious things==
Conservatives don't stop at just accusing news organizations of having a liberal bias. In fact, if everything had the liberal bias that conservatives claimed, [[reality]] itself would surely have some form of liberal bias; either that, or liberals are so devious that they have [[Conspiracy theory|managed to take control over every form of communication to distort the truth]].

Here is a short list of places conservatives have found liberal bias:
{{collist|2|
*[[Steve Jobs|Apple]]<ref>[http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/politician_accuses_apple_of_liberal_political_agenda_in_app_store_approvals/ Politician Accuses Apple of Liberal Political Agenda in App Store Approvals] by Bryan Chaffin (May 24<sup>th</sup>, 2010 7:35 PM EDT) ''The Mac Observer''.</ref>
*[[The Bible]] itself, according to the [[Conservative Bible Project]]
*Dictionaries<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/19/bernard-goldberg-dictiona_n_177123.html Bernard Goldberg: Dictionaries Have A 'Liberal' Bias] by Jason Linkins (Apr 19, 2009, 05:12 AM EDT; Updated Dec 6, 2017) ''HuffPost''.</ref>
*[[FactCheck.org]]<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2923825/posts Factcheck.org -- A Fraudulent "Fact Check" Site Funded By Biased Political Group] by bronxville (8/28/2012, 10:47:46 AM) ''Free Republic''.</ref>
*[[Google]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091015072059/http://www.newshounds.us/2009/02/01/fox_news_complains_about_googles_liberal_bias.php FOX News Complains About Google's Liberal Bias] by Ellen (February 1, 2009) ''News Hounds (archived from October 15, 2009).</ref>
*[[PolitiFact]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130607193830/http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2013/05/29/study-reveals-republicans-lie-moreor-politifact-has-serious-liberal-bias 
Study Reveals Republicans Lie More...Or That Politifact Has a Serious Liberal Bias Problem] by Tim Graham (May 29, 2013 | 13:48) ''NewsBusters'' (archived from June 7, 2013).</ref><ref>[http://www.politifactbias.com/ PolitiFact Bias]</ref>
*[[Public schools]] and teachers<ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/16/liberal-bias-has-tainted-schools/</ref>
*RationalWiki{{nofact}}
*[[Reality]]{{nofact}}
*[[Science]]{{nofact}}<ref>See [[War on Science]].</ref>
*[[Snopes]]<ref>http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/internet/a/snopes_exposed.htm</ref>
*[[Social networking websites#Facebook|Facebook]]<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2011/05/24/facebook-upgrade-spurs-fears-of-political-bias/</ref>
*Textbooks<ref>http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2010/mar10/10-03-19.html</ref>
*Distributive algebra<ref>http://mediamatters.org/video/2013/01/09/foxs-eric-bolling-teaching-kids-distributive-al/192139</ref>
*[[Wikipedia]]<ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/Examples_of_Bias_in_Wikipedia</ref>
*[[YouTube]]<ref>http://newsbusters.org/node/8355</ref>
}}

==Motives==
Conservatives who lambast anything for having a liberal bias most likely genuinely believe what they are saying. It is a staple of the ideology to stand for '[[tradition]]' and the {{wpl|status quo||,}} so it is not surprising that many conservatives are firmly entrenched in their personal [[opinion]]s and [[belief]]s and will employ [[willful ignorance]] when confronted with opposing viewpoints, [[Cognitive dissonance|no matter the accuracy]]. A story that can be firmly based in fact can be accused of having a liberal bias because it goes against a central part of conservative thought and political discourse (e.g. [[evolution]] or [[global warming]], at least with American conservatives). If a news organization is actually left-leaning, or if conservatives suspect it of being left-leaning, [[Fake news|news stories can't be trusted]], and every fact mentioned now comes up for question.

This type of ignorance can have a terrible effect, and in [[Texas]] has actually led to [[Historical revisionism#Wingnuts|whitewashing of history]] in school textbooks.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/education/21textbooks.html Texas School Board Set to Vote Textbook Revisions] by Michael Brick (May 20, 2010) ''The New York Times''.</ref>

Conservative leaders and others have [[Conflict of interest|darker motives]], though, and attacking critics for having liberal bias is [[Poisoning the well|meant to discredit them]], and also [[Ad hominem|to discredit what could otherwise be legitimate criticisms]].

==See also==
*[[L. Brent Bozell III]]
*[[Hostile media effect]]
*[[Confirmation Bias]]
*[[Media Research Center]]
*[[Persecution complex]]
*[[Ben Shapiro]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}

[[Category:Fake news]]
[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Social liberalism]]

Categories: Fake news, Media, Social liberalism