I was listening to a TV show last night and they were discussing the "Main Street Media" and their biased coverage of everything. It really got me to thinking.... Who exactly is the main street media? I have asked many people this, and if I have asked 10 people I will get 10 different answers. It begs the question, if we are so frustrated with their coverage, who exactly are we frustrated at.
I have a very strong theory on where this notion of Main Street Media came from and I believe we should be leery of their claim. I have a very strong feeling that this term started in the Conservative Radio Media. Yes I am talking about Rush, Sean, Neil, Bill, and many other around the country. Yes this says a lot, that they have a strikingly strong ability to influence our vocabulary; but should we believe that the "Main Street Media" is as biased as they say. Lets not forget that if we stop listening or watching these outlets, who benefits the most. THEY DO!!!
It makes me laugh that we are supposed to get unbiased news from the "Main Street Media," yet those who talk the loudest about it being a problem are the ones that are even more biased with their perspective.
Is every news story fair and balanced... Absolutely not and I will not pretend that they are. But why do they have to be. Anyone who cares enough knows that there are 100 different ways to get news. Internet, radio, TV, book, papers. Lets also remember that all media outlets except for Public Radio is a business, and even public radio is funded in large part to donations of the public. In most cases, what is one way to make a business change its ways. Do not buy the products. If you don't watch or listen they will either change or stop existing all together. Look at print newspapers, they are dying off left and right because people go to the Internet or have 2 hour news cycles. The same will be said of all other media outlets.
Let be careful throwing blanket statements around and make sure you know who the source of those statement are. They may have an agenda!!!
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The media you are referring to is classically known as the network media. The Three big network news casts and CNN and perhaps a few other cable news outlets. The tie that binds these particular entities is there general biased covered of the news. It has been shown many times over that on most issues these media outlets slant hard left typically about 2:1. During presidential campaigns they run stories in favor or in greater quantity showing a positive light for Democratic candidates.
ReplyDeleteI believe we are seeing a shift away from these news outlets as Americans now have other means to get their news as you have noted. As with the newspaper the network news is going through a shift. The media organizations have historically been run be leftist folk in our society. Interestingly enough Fox News is owned by Rupert Murdoch and he isn't what most would consider right wing. He actually plays down the middle as a smart business man might in order to protect his interests. Where do his personal beliefs lie, I don't know, but he certainly plays both sides in the media. I have an interesting article on this topic on my blog if you care to read it. It is quite long, but still interesting.
Instead of not labeling things perhaps we should encourage more labels to expose things for what or who they are. The more discussion and debate we can have on topics the closer we get to the truth and the truth will eventually prevail. Hidden agendas and supporting one side blindly over the other doesn't promote growth. These companies are providing information to the world,the least they could do is provide coverage of both sides of the issue.
HOWEVER, I AM NOT AN ADVOCATE OF GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE on this issue. The marketplace of ideas will work through this issue. The marketplace has worked and that is why we know what blogs, FoxNews and other more right leaning news sources to choose from. The market wanted it and now we have it. Thank God too, we needed alternatives sources of news.
On a larger scale you may tune into BBC. They cover the world much better than any other American news agency. We as Americans are sheltered and we really should reach out to find other news so we are aware of what is occurring in our world.