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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
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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