Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxk.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!ihuxk!rs55611 From: rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP (Robert E. Schleicher) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Whoa! WHAT propaganda campaign? - (nf) Message-ID: <759@ihuxk.UUCP> Date: Thu, 27-Sep-84 13:50:45 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxk.759 Posted: Thu Sep 27 13:50:45 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Sep-84 06:28:10 EDT References: <592@hou5a.UUCP> <29200150@uiucdcs.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 35 In regard to the discussion on whether the news media have a liberal or conservative bias, there was an interesting survey done some years back: As part of this survey, newspaper editors and reporters were asked who they voted for in any previous presidential elections held since they becoame reporters. I don't recall all of the results, but the surveyed group of reporters and editors overwhelmingly supported the Democratic party. As an example, in 1968, something like 80% of the reporters and editors that were surveyed said they had voted for McGovern. This is pretty amazing, considering that the general public overwhelmingly supported Nixon that year (McGovern won only 2 or 3 states, I think). (Oops, I meant to say the 1972 election, not 1968). It's also worth pointing out that Watergate hadn't yet been exposed, so this wouldn't account for the reporters voting for McGovern. The results were basically similar for other recent elections, although none were as dramatic as the 1972 results. I should also mention that reporters and editors were all lumped together in this survey. However, a trend toward at least somewhat more con- servatism was noted amongst the editors (due to greater age?). Thus, it was theorized that the editorial stance of many newspapers would be more conservative than the survey resultsa would indicate. However, the actual reporting and article writing would tend to reflect the trends seen in the survey. I can't remember what percentages of those surveyed identified themselves as being currently Democrats or Republicans, although again the Democrats had a higher representation. Also, many reporters claimed that they had no preference, and also abstained from voting, since they felt they should remain as neutral as possible. Bob Schleicher ihuxk!rs55611