Examining the "Liberal Media" Claim

June 20, 2006

A more complete reportReport of this article can be found by clicking on 'report'....

Journalists' Views on Politics, Economic Policy and Media Coverage

6/1/98

[see the Extra! magazine report on this study: Challenging the "Liberal Media" Claim: On economics, journalists' private views are to the right of public (July/August 1998) by David Croteau—Adobe reader required.]

Executive Summary

The conservative critique of the news media rests on two general propositions: (1) journalists' views are to the left of the public, and (2) journalists frame news content in a way that accentuates these left perspectives. Previous research has revealed persuasive evidence against the latter claim, but the validity of the former claim has often been taken for granted. This research project examined the supposed left orientation of media personnel by surveying Washington-based journalists who cover national politics and/or economic policy at US outlets.

The findings include:

On select issues from corporate power and trade to Social Security and Medicare to health care and taxes, journalists are actually more conservative than the general public.

Journalists are mostly centrist in their political orientation.

The minority of journalists who do not identify with the "center" are more likely to identify with the "right" when it comes to economic issues and to identify with the "left" when it comes to social issues.

Journalists report that "business-oriented news outlets" and "major daily newspapers" provide the highest quality coverage of economic policy issues, while "broadcast network TV news" and "cable news services" provide the worst.

I. INTRODUCTION

The idea that the mainstream media have a "liberal bias" has long been conventional wisdom. At various times, public figures from Richard Nixon to Newt Gingrich have all taken refuge in the claim that the "liberal" media were out to get them. A legion of conservative talk show hosts, pundits and media-watch groups pound away at the idea that the media exhibit an inherently "liberal" tilt. But the assertion is based on remarkably little evidence and is repeatedly made in the face of contradictory facts.

In particular, the conservative critique of the news media rests on two general propositions: (1) journalists' views are to the left of the public, and (2) journalists frame news content in a way that accentuates these left perspectives. Researchers and analysts have discovered persuasive evidence against the latter claim. Content analyses of the news media have, at a minimum, shown the absence of any such systematic liberal/left tilt; some studies have found a remarkably predictable press usually reflecting the narrow range of views of those in positions of power, as well as a spectrum of expert opinion that tilts toward the right.

But even some progressives have been willing to cede to conservatives the first point: that journalists' views are to the left of the public. Professionals in general, they observe, often have "liberal" leanings on social issues and there is no reason to expect journalists to be any different. However, they have also argued convincingly that the norms of "objective journalism" and the powerful corporate interests which own and sponsor the news media ensure that news content never strays too far, for too long, from protecting the status quo. You don't understand the corporate ideology of General Motors by studying the personal beliefs of the assembly-line workers, the argument goes. Ideological orientation is introduced and enforced by those high in the organizational hierarchy who have the power to hire and fire, to reward and punish. Working journalists, despite their sometimes high visibility, usually do not call the shots in the nation's media corporations. (The documentary "Fear and Favor in the Newsroom" provides vivid illustrations of this situation.) Consequently, the private views of individual journalists often matter little.

Such an analysis of organizational dynamics is fundamental to understanding the news process. It, indeed, is a crucial argument that kicks the legs out from the conservative critique and gets at the more fundamental structural elements that set the news agenda. Still, this approach begs the question: are journalists really to the left of the public? This element of the conservative critique has not been adequately addressed; it's one reason why the "liberal media" charge gets repeated without serious scrutiny.

The small amount of current data on this issue may be due, in part, to journalist's resistance to answering surveys lest results somehow compromise their professional stance of objective "neutral" observers. This presents a challenge for researchers. Still, despite the methodological hurdles, this question is an interesting one and this report describes the results of one effort to examine this essential underpinning of the "liberal media" claim.

II. METHODOLOGY

In consultation with the Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University, a 24-question self-administered survey was sent by mail to Washington-based journalists (n = 444) as specified below. The initial mailing was followed by a reminder postcard. A second copy of the questionnaire was later sent to non-respondents. Finally, reminder phone calls were placed to remaining non-respondents and replacement surveys were mailed as requested. Data was gathered from late February through April 1998.

A. The Survey

Journalists were asked a range of questions about how they did their work and about how they viewed the quality of media coverage in the broad area of politics and economic policy. They were asked for their opinions and views about a range of recent policy issues and debates. Finally, they were asked for demographic and identifying information, including their political orientation. (Complete survey questions and summary results can be found in Appendix B.)

B. The Target Population of Journalists

This survey was targeted at Washington bureau chiefs and Washington-based journalists who cover national politics and/or economic policy at US national and major metropolitan outlets. The intent was to represent the breadth of available media outlets, while realistically focusing on the largest and most influential of these national and major metropolitan outlets.

The journalists surveyed (who were not bureau chiefs) were chosen based on the following criteria:

1. They were listed in the Spring 1998 News Media Yellow Book.

2. They were listed in the "Assignment Index" portion of the Yellow Book under one or more of the following categories: "Congress," "federal government," "national affairs," "politics," "White House," "business," "consumer issues," "economics," or "labor."

3. They were based in the Washington, DC area as indicated in their Yellow Book listing by a telephone area code of either 202 (Washington), 703 (northern Virginia), or 301 (Maryland).

4. They worked for a national or major metropolitan US news organization that potentially reaches the general public.

The bureau chiefs surveyed in this project were chosen based on the following criteria

1. They were listed in the Spring 1998 News Media Yellow Book.

2. Their position was listed as "bureau chief" or its equivalent.

3. They were based in the Washington, DC area as indicated in the Yellow Book listing by a telephone area code of either 202 (Washington), 703 (northern Virginia), or 301 (Maryland).

4. They were at a US news organization that potentially reaches the general public and that has a listing in the Yellow Book with at least 10 staff people (including the bureau chief). These criteria yielded a targeted population total of 33 bureau chiefs and 411 other journalists (total n = 444). Questionnaires were mailed to the entire targeted population.

C. Media Organizations Represented

The targeted population represents a broad range of news outlets, while at the same time focusing on the largest and most influential of these outlets. The criteria used for targeting journalists meant that smaller and less influential news outlets were not over-represented, a problem found in earlier research on Washington-based journalists. The criteria outlined above were successful in both generating significant breadth (journalists at 78 different news organizations were surveyed) while keeping the emphasis on the largest and most influential media (half of the surveys were sent to journalists at 14 news organizations).

The 14 news organizations that received more than 10 surveys each were (in alphabetical order):

1. ABC News /ABC Radio

2. Associated Press /AP Broadcast News

3. Bloomberg News

4. CNN

5. Knight-Ridder Newspapers/Tribune Information Services

6. Los Angeles Times

7. NBC News

8. New York Times

9. Reuters America, Inc.

10. Time

11. USA Today/USA Weekend

12. Wall Street Journal

13. Washington Post

14. Washington Times

Appendix A contains a list of all media organizations to which surveys were mailed. For confidentiality reasons, exact numbers of surveys mailed are not indicated, but ranges are listed to give the reader a clear sense of the final distribution of surveys.

June 20, 2006

Chief Correspondent for the Tongue-In-Cheek Press:

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

Journalists are mostly centrist in their political orientation.

That's a good knee-slapper <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/thankyousign.gif" alt="" /> I needed a good laugh.

June 21, 2006

Neil,

Shane doesn't believe in evidence or experimentation. He forms his views, then goes looking for something to back it up.

No, wait, it's the liberal press that does that.

Or is it the Bush admin.

It certainly isn't Bush - he has never gone looking for evidence for anything, because he is so sure that he is right that any contradictory evidence is obviously the result of enemies of motherhood and apple pie and, of course, his buddies profits.

FEMA = Flings Endless Money Around

/Bevin

June 21, 2006

Some people believe that anyone to the right of them is conservative. Case in point: some believe Alan Combs is a moderate. Why? Because he is left of them, not because he holds conservative positions in the poltical spectrum.

While most journalists are right of Howard Dean and Micheal Moore, that doesn't mean they are moderates. That just means they are not extreamist liberals. Study after study shows the vast majority of journalists vote for Democrats or are registared as Democrats.

However things are changing. The success of FOXNews has the other networks opening their eyes. They are seeing they have to move to the center in order to maintain or draw viewers. I have seen significant change in just the last few years. Of course the extreame left considers the middle to be conservative.

June 21, 2006

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

Study after study shows the vast majority of journalists vote for Democrats or are registared as Democrats.

Does that mean that they cannot report the news without bias? The above study does show that. Your assurtions are unsubstantiated...put up or shut up!

June 21, 2006

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

put up or shut up!

I slap my children on the mouth when they speak like that. I hope they are not still doing it when they become adults.

Bias in the media comes through as selective reporting. The only solution is to get our news from more than one source. We cannot expect any single source to provide us a non-bias report of current events.

FOXNews tries to be fair and balanced. They do that by giving one side of a story about the same amount of time as they give the other side. When reporting a political story the often play 10 seconds of a Republican make his points and then 10 seconds of a Democrat making other points. It is an attempt to be balanced but even then, there is some selective reporting that takes place.

June 25, 2006

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

I slap my children on the mouth when they speak like that. I hope they are not still doing it when they become adults.

Well, concider yourself slapped, for irreverent and inaccurate reporting of facts...IOW bearing false witness to the world around you....

In this case, I have put up an article that refutes your assurtions that the media is liberal.

You can not handle that sort of facts as it distorts your world...unfortunately for you, it is YOUR problem and that of your familys...as they will continually be influenced by your inaccuracys....

So, put up or shut up, Shane....Get used to hearing it....

June 26, 2006

Are the Media Liberal?

The two sides of the debate are given at the NRO debate.

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

What, exactly, is a liberal denying when he denies a liberal bias in the media? Most journalists continue to promote the mythology that bias is nonexistent in the news business, an amazing proposition given that it is impossible not to be biased. What is news? What is the day's top news story? What is to be the lead? Who is to be cited? What ought to be the conclusion? These and so many others are the daily questions a reporter faces, and every single one demands a subjective, biased response. So why do so many journalists deny the obvious? First and foremost, because they really do believe their liberalism is mainstream.

That is what it comes down to. Liberals believe their liberalism is mainstream. Anyone to the right of them is conservative.

June 26, 2006

My Dad says that over 90% of journalists vote liberal. That is a fact that he learned while teaching Ohio & American history.

all the best,

gcw

June 26, 2006

Conservative just means preferring the status quo. Liberal means willing to change.

[Just be sure, next time it's your turn to call for the offering in church, you never make a mistake and ask for a "liberal" offering!!]

July 2, 2006

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

Shane said:

The two sides of the debate are given at the NRO debate.

Your own url that you give says that it can not hope, IN 500 WORDS OR LESS, to convince any concervative who is entrenched in the belief of the following myth-

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

That is what it comes down to. Liberals believe their liberalism is mainstream. Anyone to the right of them is conservative.

Here is a conservative man, folks, telling you what liberals think and believe....This is just wrong...Shane, you do NOT speak for the liberals of america....if anyone, you may speak for the conservative...but quitcher telling me and everyone else what we think...YOU ARE A LIAR when you interprete the liberal stance...YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, NOR DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE PROMOTING......

And that is the truth, Shane....

July 2, 2006

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

Here is a conservative man, folks

I am a moderate that leans conservative on some issues (primarily abortion). I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans. If there were more Democrats that were pro-life, I would vote for Democrats more often than I do. I am not a partisan and I have shifted positions on many issues. I cannot be painted into a political box.

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

YOU ARE A LIAR

This is emotionally, inflamatory language and inappropriate for this forum.

July 2, 2006

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

Shane said:

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

Here is a conservative man, folks

I am a moderate that leans conservative on some issues (primarily abortion). I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans. If there were more Democrats that were pro-life, I would vote for Democrats more often than I do. I am not a partisan and I have shifted positions on many issues. I cannot be painted into a political box.

No, you paint yourself into that box. As demostrated by yourownself.

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

YOU ARE A LIAR

This is emotionally, inflamatory language and inappropriate for this forum.

And when you take my post out of context,you lie again. In this case, you have been exposed as a conservative, and you want to be considered a moderate...but you again show over and over your neo-conservative attitude and you attempt to make it a moderate position...That is lieing...and you are a liar...

July 2, 2006

T.O.

To EVERYONE. Play nice or this thread closes.

July 2, 2006

I have no problem with examining the "Liberal Media" claim without calling other people names. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

July 3, 2006

Let's try this another way, Shane....

If you misrepresent yourself or your ideas, the reciever has no choice but to determine if you are honest or not...If you are not honest, your misrepresentation is an attempt to decieve others. If you are honest in your misrepresentation, then you yourself are decieved and your information is worthless as it is out to harm others in some way...

Better to hear this from a brother, than to never hear it at all....

July 3, 2006

I have no reason to misrepresent myself. I am simply participating in the exchange of ideas. Every political test I have ever taken since I was a student in college has placed me near the center of the political spectrum. I use to have more of a libertarian leaning than I do now. As I grow older I shift a little in my idealogy.

Now an individual's idealogy does impact how they view the media. If they are to the extreame left, they will view the media as having a conservative bias because the media is right of their ideolgy. Those of us in the middle tend to see a little liberal bias in the media and those further right of us tend to see even more liberal bias in the media.

July 5, 2006

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

Those of us in the middle tend to see a little liberal bias in the media and those further right of us tend to see even more liberal bias in the media.

That is NOT how an independant, scientific report showed. And I would tend to look take thier opinion over yours anyday of the week and twice on sunday.

[:"green"] The findings include:

On select issues from corporate power and trade to Social Security and Medicare to health care and taxes, journalists are actually more conservative than the general public.

Journalists are mostly centrist in their political orientation.

The minority of journalists who do not identify with the "center" are more likely to identify with the "right" when it comes to economic issues and to identify with the "left" when it comes to social issues.

Journalists report that "business-oriented news outlets" and "major daily newspapers" provide the highest quality coverage of economic policy issues, while "broadcast network TV news" and "cable news services" provide the worst. [/]

Oh, and just so you know, Shane...your ideas have been a reflection of neo-conservative from the get-go. Regardless of your so-called "central position, ", I still say that if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, smells like a duck...it's still a duck and not the elephant it cliams.... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

July 5, 2006

There is not universal agreement that the mainstream media has a liberal slant. That is true. However there are various studies that have shown time and time again that it does. One need only spend a little time in the predominate schools of jouranlism to understand why journalists come out with a liberal slant.

July 6, 2006

"There is not universal agreement that the mainstream media has a liberal slant."

Do you really believe that? Somebody is missing something somewhere...

all the best,

olger

July 6, 2006

<blockquote>Quote:<hr />

Shane said:

There is not universal agreement that the mainstream media has a liberal slant. That is true. However there are various studies that have shown time and time again that it does. One need only spend a little time in the predominate schools of jouranlism to understand why journalists come out with a liberal slant.

Or have a predominate conservative opinion.... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

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