Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site whuxl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!whuxl!orb From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Mr. Sevener's mythical media bias (second try) Message-ID: <513@whuxl.UUCP> Date: Thu, 7-Mar-85 09:12:41 EST Article-I.D.: whuxl.513 Posted: Thu Mar 7 09:12:41 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 8-Mar-85 04:48:40 EST References: <424@harvard.ARPA> Distribution: net Organization: /usr/exptools/lib/netnews/myorg Lines: 33 In response to Jim: It is very difficult to settle this issue on the basis of impressions or our views of the media's reporting. We would have to sample what gets sent out by the national news services versus what actually gets published by local papers. For example: I would be willing to bet your smalltown paper did not carry the report that the Pentagon admitted that the Nuclear Winter effect was valid. At the same time they also probably did not carry the report in the New York Times several weeks ago about the bloodshed in Cambodia. One report favors a liberal perspective, the other is more likely to be cited by conservatives. (tho I am very much concerned with murders *anywhere*) My basis for saying that most publishers are wealthy and conservative is simply that all surveys I have seen show this bias. The fact that 70% of newspapers endorse Republicans tends to confirm the conservative nature of newspaper publishers. As for TV news: I hardly ever watch the network news. Sometimes I watch the MacNeil-Lehr hour on PBS and that seems to be very informative. They also make sure to bring guests representing opposing viewpoints when considering an issue in a discussion format, which they do every show. One reason I do not watch TV news is that I cannot stomach the local news. Frankly it is disgusting. The other nite the local news began: "murder, rape , 3 injured.......who were the animals who could do such a thing?....." I feel that the local news has no right to label any human being "an animal". I also question just how this informs me of anything. The classic case of terrible reporting is the Goetz case which has been a major item in local news reports. I refer to my other postings on this. What I would like to see is media that are neither conservative nor liberal but which present many sides of important issues in an informative manner. Unfortunately that is sadly lacking................ tim sevener whuxl!orb