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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
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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