America's view on politics and the news media

UNT90 · June 29, 2011

The views have not changed.

For all those arguing that there is a big political shift going on in this country (either way)

Censored by Laurie · June 29, 2011

From about the 3:30 mark.

Mean Green 93-98 · June 29, 2011

From about the 3:30 mark.

Your point being . . . ?

UNT90 · June 29, 2011

From about the 3:30 mark.

Sad that this is where many in the younger generation of this country get their news. Might as well tune into MSNBC.

Other than that, do you have a point?

Censored by Laurie · June 30, 2011

Other than that, do you have a point?

Simply that this liberal-contrived, agenda-driven, main-stream media monster that Fox has managed to conjure is truly brilliant work.

UNT90 · June 30, 2011

Simply that this liberal-contrived, agenda-driven, main-stream media monster that Fox has managed to conjure is truly brilliant work.

Funny how we all see things they way that we want to see them.

And I'd bet that if you did the research, you would find that Americans have felt this way about the news media for much longer than Fox has been around.

But, it's always easier to demonize something than to admit to oneself that one's opinion may not be shared by the majority.

Edited June 30, 2011 by UNT90

Army of Dad · June 30, 2011

Funny how we all see things they way that we want to see them.

And I'd bet that if you did the research, you would find that Americans have felt this way about the news media for much longer than Fox has been around.

But, it's always easier to demonize something than to admit to oneself that one's opinion may not be shared by the majority.

You could probably argue that this is the reason Fox News exists.

UNT90 · June 30, 2011

You could probably argue that this is the reason Fox News exists.

This is why Fox News exists (and thrives). Funny how the free market has a way of giving the consumers what they want.

To think that Fox has somehow brainwashed Americans is, well, pretty arrogant and shallow thinking. America is a center right country. The media, as shown in study after study after study is insanely left as compared to the majority of Americans.

The below is from a Pew research poll conducted months after Fox News started programming (1996) and long before it was labeled the Evil Empire by most liberals:

Exhibit 1: The People & The Press, 1997

One of the most comprehensive surveys of the public’s general opinion of the media was done in

1997 by the Pew Research Center for The People & The Press, formerly known as the Times Mirror Center for the People and the Press. This research compared poll results from the mid-1980s with the late-1990s, (using identical questions) and determined a growing percentage of the public realize the media are biased, inaccurate and an obstacle to solving problems.

Two-thirds (67%) said they agreed with the statement: “In dealing with political and social issues, news organizations tend to favor one side.” That was up 14 points from 53 percent who gave that answer in 1985.

# Those who believed the media “deal fairly with all sides” fell from 34 percent to 27 percent.

# “In one of the most telling complaints, a majority (54%) of Americans believe the news media gets in the way of society solving its problems,” Pew reported.

# Republicans “are more likely to say news organizations favor one side than are Democrats or independents (77 percent vs. 58 percent and 69 percent, respectively).”

# The percentage who felt “news organizations get the facts straight” fell from 55 percent to 37 percent.

# The public also condemned the media’s intrusiveness: “Nearly two-thirds (64%) now believe TV news programs unnecessarily invade people’s privacy, rather than intrude only when it serves the public interest.”

Edited June 30, 2011 by UNT90

Green P1 · June 30, 2011

I think everyone in this thread needs to fire up the internet and do some more research.

Quoner · June 30, 2011

I think everyone in this thread needs to fire up the internet and do some more research.

Leave our families out of this.

UNT90 · June 30, 2011

I think everyone in this thread needs to fire up the internet and do some more research.

Early holiday week give-up was the only thing that even took me that far.

Never understood message board research requirments, anyway.

Army of Dad · July 1, 2011

I think everyone in this thread needs to fire up the internet and do some more research.

fire-it-through-the-internet-gardenhire-shirt1-e1300207559979.jpg?w=320&h=201

UNTLifer · July 2, 2011

From about the 3:30 mark.

Jon Stewart, a comedian and obvious liberal, is a good reference. :ph34r:

I think this proves the point of this thread.

Green Mean · July 2, 2011

The media has its share of conservative douches and liberal douches. Not sure what the fuss is about. If more people were just in the middle moderate I think it would be great. Just my thought.

Mean Green 93-98 · July 2, 2011

If more people were just in the middle moderate I think it would be great. Just my thought.

According to whose definition of "just in the middle moderate"?

UNT90 · July 2, 2011

The media has its share of conservative douches and liberal douches. Not sure what the fuss is about. If more people were just in the middle moderate I think it would be great. Just my thought.

The inital study in this thread really isn't about whether the media is liberal or conservative, but about American's perception of whether the media is liberal or conservative.

As far as being in the middle, pick a damn side, already!!!

Green Mean · July 2, 2011

According to whose definition of "just in the middle moderate"?

There's some gray area of course but people generally know when one is very conservative or very liberal.

Edited July 2, 2011 by Green Mean

Green Mean · July 2, 2011

The inital study in this thread really isn't about whether the media is liberal or conservative, but about American's perception of whether the media is liberal or conservative.

As far as being in the middle, pick a damn side, already!!!

I think both sides have valid arguments and stances on things. I'm not one to pick one side and no matter what stick to that ideology even if I don't necessarily agree with it. I think there is usually middle ground and compromise...the world evolves on a daily basis and just being one side without ever regarding the other or others is just something I don't think is good practice.

As far as the American's perception of the media....I don't think there is a right answer. For me personally, I don't lean one way if I just watch Fox vs NBC, CNN, ABC etc...I get the information presented to me and try to look at both sides of the argument and try to form my own thoughts. I just wonder if people make too much of what the media has to say whether its conservative or liberal.

Mean Green 93-98 · July 2, 2011

There's some gray area of course but people generally know when one is very conservative or very liberal.

My first definite instruction on "left wing" vs. "right wing" was in my U.S. History course my junior year of high school. My teacher was an extremely liberal ex-hippie (as he would gladly admit), yet he taught us that the middle ground between left and right was where the conservative Republicans stood. He thought our country needed to move more to the left, but that, objectively speaking, conservative was middle. Throughout the 80's and early 90's, that's pretty much the way I always heard it, regardless of who was using the terminology. Referring to conservatives as "right-wing" is a pretty recent innovation.

UNT90 · July 3, 2011

I think both sides have valid arguments and stances on things. I'm not one to pick one side and no matter what stick to that ideology even if I don't necessarily agree with it. I think there is usually middle ground and compromise...the world evolves on a daily basis and just being one side without ever regarding the other or others is just something I don't think is good practice.

As far as the American's perception of the media....I don't think there is a right answer. For me personally, I don't lean one way if I just watch Fox vs NBC, CNN, ABC etc...I get the information presented to me and try to look at both sides of the argument and try to form my own thoughts. I just wonder if people make too much of what the media has to say whether its conservative or liberal.

Damn fence sitter. Pick a team already, (sarcasm tag)

I think you are right that people who pay attention aren't influenced one way or another by the media and never will be. The problem comes with those who pay more attention to Paris Hilton than world events. They are easily influenced (and most likely to the left)..

I am just glad that Fox News offers an alternative for those who choose it (wow, choice, what a concept), even though that seems to irk so many people (even some on here).

Quoner · July 3, 2011

Damn fence sitter. Pick a team already, (sarcasm tag)

I think you are right that people who pay attention aren't influenced one way or another by the media and never will be. The problem comes with those who pay more attention to Paris Hilton than world events. They are easily influenced (and most likely to the left)..

I am just glad that Fox News offers an alternative for those who choose it (wow, choice, what a concept), even though that seems to irk so many people (even some on here).

Wait... so everyone who watches FOX News chooses it because they're educated and put everything they say under a critical eye? Why hasn't the lamestream media been reporting this!?

If that's true, I officially have no problems with FOX News.

UNT90 · July 4, 2011

Wait... so everyone who watches FOX News chooses it because they're educated and put everything they say under a critical eye? Why hasn't the lamestream media been reporting this!?

If that's true, I officially have no problems with FOX News.

Do you really think those watching Paris Hilton's every move have gone to Fox news on her recommendation?

Maybe Larry the Cable Guy, but not Paris Hilton (while she is obviously better looking, he is obviously much smarter!)

Either way, Fox is the only network out there without a liberal slant. THE ONLY ONE. And Americans know that. Hence the huge ratings.

Quoner · July 4, 2011

Do you really think those watching Paris Hilton's every move have gone to Fox news on her recommendation?

Maybe Larry the Cable Guy, but not Paris Hilton (while she is obviously better looking, he is obviously much smarter!)

Either way, Fox is the only network out there without a liberal slant. THE ONLY ONE. And Americans know that. Hence the huge ratings.

I actually lost track of your analogy when you picked a tabloid target who hasn't been relevant for 5 years, but I doubt they're watching much of either network. If you're lucky, they may pick up a stray Alec Baldwin comment or Family Guy joke and call it a day. I just hate the idea that a good and bad network exists.

UNT90 · July 4, 2011

I actually lost track of your analogy when you picked a tabloid target who hasn't been relevant for 5 years, but I doubt they're watching much of either network. If you're lucky, they may pick up a stray Alec Baldwin comment or Family Guy joke and call it a day. I just hate the idea that a good and bad network exists.

Well, I was going to use Kim Kardashian, but then the spelling police (you) would have been all over me.

And really, googling her name was not an option (insert computer research joke here).