Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Media bias
From nattering nabobs of negativism to Fox News, MSNBC and beyond
What media do people use?
• Berkman-MIT study shows “asymmetrical polarization”
What media do people use?
• Berkman-MIT study shows “asymmetrical polarization”
• Steve Bannon, formerly of Breitbart, declares war on the press
What media do people use?
• Berkman-MIT study shows “asymmetrical polarization”
• Steve Bannon, formerly of Breitbart, declares war on the press
• Chris Cillizza compares Russia story to 9/11 conspiracy theories
The mainstream media are not equipped for a political
environment in which one side seeks to delegitimize the press
through falsehoods and threats.
A brief historyof media bias
The McCarthy era
• Coverage of McCarthy’s accusations exposed the limits of objectivity
The McCarthy era
• Coverage of McCarthy’s accusations exposed the limits of objectivity
• Murrow was accused by some of making rather than reporting the news
The McCarthy era
• Coverage of McCarthy’s accusations exposed the limits of objectivity
• Murrow was accused by some of making rather than reporting the news
• McCarthy supporters like Buckley launched their own media
The media consensus fractures
The media consensus fractures
• Press portrayed the civil-rights movement in a sympathetic light
The media consensus fractures
• Press portrayed the civil-rights movement in a sympathetic light
• Vietnam War further cast the media as a bastion of liberalism
The media consensus fractures
• Press portrayed the civil-rights movement in a sympathetic light
• Vietnam War further cast the media as a bastion of liberalism
• The media’s embraceof youth culture alienated conservatives
Nixon and the media
• Spoke up on behalf of the conservative“Silent Majority”
Nixon and the media
• Spoke up on behalf of the conservative“Silent Majority”
• VP Spiro Agnew denounced “nattering nabobs of negativism”
Nixon and the media
• Spoke up on behalf of the conservative“Silent Majority”
• VP Spiro Agnew denounced “nattering nabobs of negativism”
• Pentagon Papers and Watergate ignited an all-out war with media
Are journalists biased?
Does bias affect coverage?
• Despite scandal,Ronald Reagan was treated with deference
Does bias affect coverage?
• Despite scandal,Ronald Reagan was treated with deference
• Media tormented Bill Clinton over his personal pecadillos
Does bias affect coverage?
• Despite scandal,Ronald Reagan was treated with deference
• Media tormented Bill Clinton over his personal pecadillos
• Media’s failures inrun-up to war in Iraq are well documented
“Working the refs”
“I admit it — the liberal media were never that powerful, and the whole thing was often used as an excuse by conservatives for conservative failures.”
— William Kristol
The big picture in 2004
• Traditional media were culturally liberal but pursued the truth
The big picture in 2004
• Traditional media were culturally liberal but pursued the truth
• Conservative media were partisan and attacked mainstream
The big picture in 2004
• Traditional media were culturally liberal but pursued the truth
• Conservative media were partisan and attacked mainstream
• Talk radio was a conservative medium liberals couldn’t match
The big picture in 2017
• The Washington Post and other mainstream outlets are benefitting
The big picture in 2017
• The Washington Post and other mainstream outlets are benefitting
• President Trump blasts negative coverage as “fake news”
The big picture in 2017
• The Washington Post and other mainstream outlets are benefitting
• President Trump blasts negative coverage as “fake news”
• Hannity, Breitbartand others amplify Trump’s falsehoods
