Time to Call Out America's Radio News Network

[TheBigA]

Being able to utter one sentence without a liberal slant doesn't prove the network isn't liberal. And ABC, CBS and CNN are full of liberal reporters and anchors.

Sez who? Are we having a race to see who can become the next Senator McCarthy?

I've either worked for or done work with all the networks, including Fox, and I'm here to say that at no time does anyone at any of those networks ask your political opinion. It's certainly not in the employment application or interview process. And if it did, they'd be liable for a lawsuit. One's political opinion is supposed to be left at the door. If it isn't, the editorial process, which isn't easy, does a lot to flush it out. And then if your reporting is wrong, or based on lies or ideology, and it's proven, you get fired. That's the way it works. Sure, there are talk show hosts and commentators at these places who are liberals and conservatives. Always has been. That's their jobs. But reporters are strictly reporters. The good ones know the difference between reporting and commentary, and I've worked with a lot of good ones.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Being able to utter one sentence without a liberal slant doesn't prove the network isn't liberal. And ABC, CBS and CNN are full of liberal reporters and anchors.

Sez who? Are we having a race to see who can become the next Senator McCarthy?

I've either worked for or done work with all the networks, including Fox, and I'm here to say that at no time does anyone at any of those networks ask your political opinion. It's certainly not in the employment application or interview process. And if it did, they'd be liable for a lawsuit. One's political opinion is supposed to be left at the door. If it isn't, the editorial process, which isn't easy, does a lot to flush it out. And then if your reporting is wrong, or based on lies or ideology, and it's proven, you get fired. That's the way it works. Sure, there are talk show hosts and commentators at these places who are liberals and conservatives. Always has been. That's their jobs. But reporters are strictly reporters. The good ones know the difference between reporting and commentary, and I've worked with a lot of good ones.

Well said, Big A!

 

[country24]

There's a lot more to accurate reporting than getting the facts right. You also have to be sure you're not leaving out important information the listener needs to understand what's really happening. That's not always easy in two to four minutes. Hearing only one side of the story, even if all the facts are right, can be very misleading. Some networks are pretty good at reporting only the facts, and sometimes entries stories, that don't make their side look good. It's also easy to confuse "facts" with "conclusions." Especially when you're working with only half the facts.

There are lots of news sources--both broadcast and print--I trust to give me accurate facts most of the time. None are perfect. But few, if any, I trust to never miss any relevant facts. That's why it's important to have competition in news media. When one network misses something, one of the others will--or at least might--report it. And when two networks report widely different versions of the same story, everyone can take a closer look and see which one is more accurate.

There are several liberal networks out there, so it's good to have at least a couple of conservative ones.

 

[TheBigA]

There's a lot more to accurate reporting than getting the facts right. You also have to be sure you're not leaving out important information the listener needs to understand what's really happening. That's not always easy in two to four minutes.

Once again, that's where the editorial process comes in. The reporter sits in a room with an editor and a producer, and they quiz him on holes in the story. Then he goes back and re-writes the story. You're right, it's not easy. But it's a team effort. Everyone works to make sure the story is right and covers all the bases.

 

[country24]

Exactly. And when different reporters, editors and producers sit in a room to discuss the story, different reporters editors and producers won't always reach the same conclusions on the same story, even if they all have the same facts. That's why competition in news media is so important.

 

[radiobum]

there's liberal radio networks said a previous poster !

he must be getting better drugs than the rest of us to imagine that !

 

[country24]

You don't think we have liberal networks? Look at these two takes on the same story.

A. "Some parents complained about President Obama's speech to New York City school children, but it's really more of a pep talk."

B. "The administration calls it a pep talk, but some parents are complaining about a speech President Obama made to New York City school children.'

Which is from a liberal perspective, and which is from a conservative perspective? Guess which one we heard on CBS Radio News at 9:30 AM CT today.

Every country in the world with a free press has a liberal media and a conservative media. Only in America is the liberal media not proud to be called the liberal media.

 

[TheBigA]

Every country in the world with a free press has a liberal media and a conservative media. Only in America is the liberal media not proud to be called the liberal media.

First of all, when people bring up other countries, I bring up the fact that other countries also have a Prime Minister. In those other free countries, do they promote themselves as liberal and conservative media? Or are we making a personal, subjective judgement? I think we're venturing into Senator McCarthy territory again.

There are two ways to cover news: The right way and the wrong way. That's what I was taught in journalism school. Now you might want to ask which teacher, and then play McCarthy again, and tell me I was taught by liberals. But the goal in reporting is to get the story right. If you're reading bias in a story, it's bad reporting. That's it. But I might also question the way you judge bias. I found mistakes in both examples you gave.

 

[country24]

"Do they promote themselves as liberal and conservative media?" No, but everyone knows it and they don't deny it.

I see a mistake in the first example. The CBS reporter told us what she thinks the speech "really" was, implying the parents had no basis for complaint. I didn't hear the speech, so I don't have an informed opinion. What is the mistake in the second?

I'm assuming the president really did make a speech to New York City school children, and that some parents really did complain. I wouldn't expect CBS to make factual errors about something like that.

Your journalism teacher is right that the only right way to report a story is accurate, complete and as bias free as humanly possible. But different people, including reporters, producers and editors, have different values, perspectives and experiences, so they're not always going to agree on exactly what the final product should look like. It's not good when one group of people with a particular mindset holds themselves up as the only ones capable of reporting news the right way.

Again, that's why it's just as important to have competition in the news media as in any other business.

 

[TheBigA]

It's not good when one group of people with a particular mindset holds themselves up as the only ones capable of reporting news the right way.

And what "group" in the US does that? I'd suggest to you there's lots of competition in American news media now. The bad part is there's so much opinion presented as news that it's hard to distinguish from reporting and commentary. So people listen to news they agree with, rather than news that's right. That may be what you're talking about. In order for this country to stay together, there's a need for people to listen to both sides of an issue, not just the side they agree with.

There's also lots of competition among and within the media companies. As I said, I've worked for a lot of them, and they're not as unified as they're portrayed. I've sat in editorial meetings at NBC and NPR, and the differences of opinion on issues are very sharp. One better have a thick skin if one wants to be a reporter, and be ready to defend every word and nuance in a story. And we all watched the competition and compared their work with ours.

 

[country24]

"And what "group" in the US does that?"

It's the group that tells us that their's is the only "news that.s right."

I know there's quite a bit of diversity and competition within the liberal media. There's also quite a bit of diversity and competition within the conservative media. That's good, but it's not enough. There also needs to be competition between liberal and conservative media.

 

[TheBigA]

"And what "group" in the US does that?"

It's the group that tells us that their's is the only "news that.s right."

I know there's quite a bit of diversity and competition within the liberal media. There's also quite a bit of diversity and competition within the conservative media. That's good, but it's not enough. There also needs to be competition between liberal and conservative media.

There needs to be neither, or the people won't be able to know the truth.

 

[flashback]

one news channel leans to the right out of all of them and people get up in arms.

its not like the others don`t have their agenda.they all do.

 

[country24]

I guess that's the difference between conservatives and liberals. Conservatives believe ordinary people are intelligent enough to figure out the truth when they hear both sides. Apparently liberals don't.

Sure a lot of people only listen to what they agree with, but a lot listen to both sides. For those who choose to listen to only one side, that's their loss.

The problem isn't that people won't listen to both sides. The problems is that some people don't want the public to have the opportunity to hear both sides.

Reality is, we DO have both liberal and conservative media, a lot of people DO listen to both then make up their own minds, and that's the way it should be.

 

[TheBigA]

I guess that's the difference between conservatives and liberals. Conservatives believe ordinary people are intelligent enough to figure out the truth when they hear both sides. Apparently liberals don't.

Oh come on now. This is not a black and white, liberal/conservative world. It's not that simple. There are many shades of grey and lots of conservatives who believe in free school lunch programs and liberals who don't like abortion. I'm concerned about this attempt to divide this country into red and blue, because it's destructive to the vision of the country, and really doesn't reflect what the majority of the people really believe.

 

[country24]

OK then, maybe what we need is shades of liberal/conservative in the media. That's all the more reason to encourage more diversity in media, not less. I do think most networks could do a lot more in providing a wider range of viewpoints among their analysis and commentary. I liked the old CBS radio "Spectrum" program, although it seemed to me that the extreme ends of the political spectrum--both left and right--were over-represented.

We certainly have those shades in print and internet media. But it's a lot more difficult to achieve in cable/satellite TV or even network radio where it's so much more expensive to establish a strong new competitor.

The fact is, the country is divided. And it's not because of the media. And those who think the answer is to muzzle conservative media are just making it worse.

 

[TheBigA]

OK then, maybe what we need is shades of liberal/conservative in the media. That's all the more reason to encourage more diversity in media, not less.

How do you "encourage more diversity in media?"

I don't think anyone is trying to "muzzle conservative media." And I don't think anyone can.

However, it appears some people are out to defund public radio.

 

[country24]

“How do you "encourage more diversity in media?"
Maybe I should have said “accept” rather than “encourage.” That would be a big step in the right direction.

1. Dispense with the elitist attitude that right-thinking liberal media has an exclusive franchise to interpret the day's news to the great unwashed masses, without fear of being questioned by wrong-thinking conservative media who imagine they are their moral and intellectual equals.

2. Recognize that it's OK if the public is exposed to diverse perspectives instead of just being spoon-fed right-think by a cadre of establishment journalists. Competent adults can function in an environment where everyone doesn't think the same way. We do it every day. We won't flounder around in abject confusion if opposing media present different perspectives. You don't need to be afraid of diversity. Diversity is only a problem when some of the diverse elements refuse to respect others and expect everyone to acknowledge their superiority.

“I don't think anyone is trying to 'muzzle conservative media.'"
In Sep 2009 President Obama went on every Sunday news show except Fox News Sunday, and the next month the Treasury Department tried to exclude Fox News from pool coverage of interviews with a key officials. Fortunately he had to back down both times, but you can't deny he's trying.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/23/eveningnews/main5415921.shtml

And in Nov 2010 Associated Press said Senator Jay Rockefeller wanted the FCC to take Fox News and MSNBC off the air and Al Sharpton wanted the FCC to shut down Rush Limbaugh.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6028340/why_are_democrats_so_procensorship.html?cat=9

Actually, most of the muzzling push has been against talk radio rather than news organizations. I'm sure you're familiar with the flap over “bringing back” a version of the Fairness Doctrine, totally different from the original, that would require talk stations to either devote part of their schedule to liberal talk shows that attract very small audiences or drop the format. And it's latest incarnation as part of a “localism” initiative establishing advisory boards which can recommend denial of license renewal for stations that don't meet their fairness standards, whatever those standards may be.

“I don't think anyone can.”
I think you're right. Americans will put up with a lot, but we'll fight for freedom of speech.”

“it appears some people are out to defund public radio.”
I think PBS should get exactly the same amount of government funds as ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, Fox, MTV, RFD-TV, Discovery Channel, C-SPAN, EWTN, HGTV, HBO, and all other commercial and non-commercial networks. After all, if your favorite network is entitled to government funds, isn't everyone else's? You can't deny RFD-TV is valuable to farmers. And what about C-SPAN. We learn a lot more about how our government works from C-SPAN than from PBS.

 

[TheBigA]

1. Dispense with the elitist attitude that right-thinking liberal media has an exclusive franchise to interpret the day's news to the great unwashed masses, without fear of being questioned by wrong-thinking conservative media who imagine they are their moral and intellectual equals.

Oh come on. Compare Scott Pelly and Bill O'Reilly. Who acts more elitist? Pelly would never use the word "bloviate." Attitude has nothing to do with encouraging more diversity. Tolerance is what's needed. And right now, both sides are guilty of intolerance. Obama had a specific issue with Fox, not a general one. Just because he doesn't do an interview doesn't muzzle them. In fact, it encourages them to attack. It sounds like you don't want diversity. But rather you want to eliminate the other side.

I think PBS should get exactly the same amount of government funds as ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, Fox, MTV, RFD-TV, Discovery Channel, C-SPAN, EWTN, HGTV, HBO, and all other commercial and non-commercial networks.

Fine. The commercial networks receive millions in government advertising, and billions in political advertising. That would mean a huge increase for CPB.

Is there a Senator who'd like to get of Fox? Sure. But no one has brought a bill to the floor of the House calling for its defunding. It's one thing to say you don't like something. I don't like my noisy neighbor. It's another thing to create legislation. Obama himself was opposed to the return of the Fairness Doctrine, and would have veto'd it.

 

[country24]

"Compare Scott Pelly and Bill O'Reilly."

Just because someone uses goofy words doesn't make them elitist. A political elitist is someone who thinks those who agree with them are morally or intellectually superior to those who don't. I don't watch O'Reilly regularly, but I've never seen him exhibit that attitude. I'm not familiar with Scott Pelly so I don't know if he's elitist or not. If he fits the definition he's elitist; if he doesn't, he isn't. Regardless of where he is on the political spectrum.

"It sounds like you don't want diversity. But rather you want to eliminate the other side."

I don't want to eliminate anyone. I just don't appreciate people who have a condescending attitude toward those who they disagree with. How does that sound like I want to eliminate anyone?

"Commercial networks receive millions in government advertising, and billions in political advertising."

I have no objection to government buying advertising from any medium that sells it when advertising is appropriate. And within the confines of election law, how politicians spend their funds is between them and their supporters.

"That would mean a huge increase for CPB."

I don't care how big CPB's budget is or how they spend their money as long as they're spending THEIR money and not expecting taxpayers to foot the bill.

"No one has brought a bill to the floor of the House calling for its defunding."

With all the economic and other problems facing the nation now, the small amount going to PBS is pretty far down on everyone's priority list. But I look forward to the day when PBS is in the private sector like all other TV networks.

"Obama himself was opposed to the return of the Fairness Doctrine, and would have veto'd it."

Good for him. But a lot of people are still pushing for regulations to discourage dissenting viewpoints on talk radio. Future proposals to that end probably won't bear the controversial "Fairness Doctrine" label.