Media Bias Is there such a thing?

One of the most popular sports today is to bash the media for “the media bias.” The most common claim is that the media are too liberal. The most common claim is that the media are too liberal. But some politicians feel that the media are too conservative. But some politicians feel that the media are too conservative. So, is there a “media bias”? So, is there a “media bias”? And, if so what is it? And, if so what is it?

I submit that there is no such thing as a “media bias.” It is simply a cop out when some politician, some corporate executive, or some other public figure gets caught with his / or her pants down! It is simply a cop out when some politician, some corporate executive, or some other public figure gets caught with his / or her pants down! Why? Let’s look at some simple facts about the media. Why? Let’s look at some simple facts about the media.

Let’s look at what the mass media are specifically, and what they do for us as media consumers. First: What are the mass media? First: What are the mass media? They are: newspapers, magazines, books, radio, television, movies, music recordings, and the world wide web. They are: newspapers, magazines, books, radio, television, movies, music recordings, and the world wide web. 8 specific industries 8 specific industries

As mass media consumers, what exactly do we get from these mass media? Information Information Entertainment Entertainment Persuasion Persuasion Societal bonding Societal bonding

A pragmatic look at the infrastructure of the mass media - Radio Commercial U.S. FM radio stations 5590 Commercial U. S. AM radio stations 4720 Noncommercial U. S. radio stations 1960 Total U. S. radio stations 12,270 Total U. S. radio stations 12,270

A pragmatic look at the infrastructure of the mass media - Television Commercial U.S. television stations 1310 Non-commercial U. S. television stations 370 Local cable television stations 11,600 Total U. S. television stations 13,280 Total U. S. television stations 13,280 Plus the major television networks

Electronic Media Growth CNN, MSNBC, Turner, ESPN, Time Warner, AT&T Broadband, Cox, Charter, Comcast, etc., etc., etc. CNN, MSNBC, Turner, ESPN, Time Warner, AT&T Broadband, Cox, Charter, Comcast, etc., etc., etc. Thousands of electronic media in US alone. Thousands of electronic media in US alone. Each of them has hundreds of gatekeepers Each of them has hundreds of gatekeepers

Same is true for Print Media Daily Newspapers 1570 Daily Newspapers 1570 Weekly Newspapers 8000 Weekly Newspapers 8000 Magazines 12,000 Magazines 12,000 Book Publishers 12,000 Book Publishers 12,000

The Other Media Movie Industry Movie Industry Music Recording Industry Music Recording Industry Internet / World Wide Web Internet / World Wide Web Thousands of organizations Thousands of organizations Hundreds of thousands of gatekeepers Hundreds of thousands of gatekeepers

International Media Rapid growth Rapid growth Same kinds of numbers Same kinds of numbers Appearance of more independent media enterprises Appearance of more independent media enterprises

Do you really think that there is “a media bias” that is shared by: The Dayton Daily News, MSNBC, The Christian Science Monitor, Bertelsmann Publishing in Germany, WDTN Channel 2 in Dayton, Televisa in Mexico City And Al Jazeera in Qatar?