What media bias?
The fact of the matter is that the media does not lean “conservative” or “liberal.” Mainstream news organizations are not anti-gun so much as they are pro-fear. Humanity’s oldest and strongest emotion is money in the bank if you know how to channel it, and the news media, much like the Republican party, have mastered the art.
I’ve said before (though I’m not sure if I did a post on it) that the media has four kinds of bias:
Sensationalism bias: such as the fear and other PSH* or any other thing they can blow out of proportion thereby causing you to run to the store to buy duct tape and sheets of plastic for your windows. You know, to keep terrorists out. Or they find something that enrages some group of people.
Establishment bias: the media is entrenched with the establishment. If they’re too hard on them, they won’t get invited to the parties any more. That’s why you’ll rarely (if ever) see a media piece that takes a critical look at, say, the drug war or other complex social issues.
Corporate bias: Who owns NBC? Who owns any media outlet? Look it up, it’s fun.
Stupidity bias: No matter how common sense something is, the media will find some dumb ass. It’s true. You got your Fred Phelps and other loonies. I swear to Jebus, the press could do an article on why it’s mean and evil to stomp on kittens and then they’d find some dumbass who says No, it’s OK. The kittens like it. They’ll present the other side no matter how silly as though they have a point.
* BTW, I keep starting these little sayings and others pick up on them (like unpossible; pants-shitting hysterics; like you and me, only better; etc.). How cool is that?
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:05 am
Cooler than the other side o’ the pillow?
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:20 am
I’d call it a meme but then you would think I was referring to a 29 things you didn’t know about my animal companion type of blog post or something.
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Oh BTW, great post. Here’s one you missed, Advertiser Bias, although you could probably work it in to one of the other four.
Anyway, the media tend not to trounce on the companies that have large advertising contracts.
I read a few 4×4 rags (or I will until the subscription runs out). While they might actually cover something that might be of use to me, such as special pellets used to dynamically balance tires, they’re going to push some advertiser’s brand of pellets, such as this.
What they won’t ever tell you is that the great unwashed have been doing this for years with airsoft pellets
Those 4×4 slicks are dirt cheap when you subscribe (like 97 cents an issue), but they are, to their main fault, advertiser driven. Big surprise when teh interw3bz does it better, faster, and cheaper with a DIY slant.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
I swear to Jebus, when I am Rich and Powerful, I’m going to have a new organization that is ruthless. Ruthless in all four of those areas, plus any other I think of. I want them to be the Howard Cosell of the news business.
I want them hated, respected, feared, and loved – by everyone.
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:50 pm
I figured “unpossible” was a Simpsons reference. (Ralph Wiggum: “Me fail English? That’s unpossible!”)