It’s a “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” situation where polar opposites can look at the same issue and draw completely different conclusions. Who defines what is right and wrong? It’s all just opinion.

Arguing with these people is an exercise in futility because just about everything gets reduced to talking points and cliches. Just because someone voted for Obama doesn’t mean they “Drank the Kool-Aid” or “Had a hard on for Palin” if they voted for McCain. When it comes time to vote, I just hold my nose and pick the lesser of the evils.

The short version is yes, I think it is possible for the NEWS media to be reasonably unbiased. Does that mean the individual perceptions of the JOURNALISTS reporting on events won’t ever be perceived by the viewing public? Of course not; however, specific skills and tools were once taught to reporters to enhance their ability to be objective and practice being what was once called a “methodological atheist.” On the other hand, I see a distinct difference between a news reporter/journalist and a news pundit or opinion columnist. The three majors ABC, NBC, and CBS have completely abandoned any reasonable pretense of objectivity during their “news broadcasts.” CNN’s “Headline News” and FOX’s “Happening Now” programs are two of the very few that seem to truly give it a shot – mostly recording events rather than opinions on those events.

I tend to define “mainstream media” as those outlets who have the largest market share. Add up the market share of those with a left slant and the market share of those with a right slant and I believe you pretty much have what “mainstream” America is watching. As to the 5th “W,” (geez, yet another Bush??) or “why?” If the reporter gives simply his opinions, then yes, it’s nothing more than opinion. However, it is possible for an investigative reporter to ask, say the perpetrator of a crime, “Why did you do it?” If he answers, and the reporter reports that answer, then he’s done his job without seriously injecting himself into the investigation. Most media outlets do not do this anymore – though a few still try very hard.

Right now, while FOX has the largest CABLE market share, the combined CNBC, MSNBC, ABC, CBS and NBC, as well as the lion’s share of CNN “advocacy journalism” is by far the winner in total market share – so I would say that is the mainstream media. Do both the left and the right accuse the media of being predominantly left or right? Absolutely, and they rarely take the time to do any research to backup the contention.

I agree with you that people tend to gravitate toward media outlets that generally reflect their own world view. I also agree that in much “so called” reporting the ends do justify the means. That’s current media outlets. My contention is that I want the fourth estate back, those guys that went out to try and find out what happened – not the current crop of “how should we spin what happened.” I don’t know if that will happen in the foreseeable future, but whether it does or not, I do believe we need to be willing to argue boldly about those things that matter – and I mean honestly engaging the other team. I think Howard Fineman is right, part of our problem is that we won’t engage with EACH OTHER – we spend our time letting right and left wing zealots scream a bunch of crap and pretend there is nothing we can do about it. We can re-engage and try to change the status quo in the media and in our country.

Perhaps you are also right about the notion that it “doesn’t matter.” I hope you’re wrong about that. Regardless, my best wish and hope for all of us is best expressed by one of those $%@# liberals Robert Kennedy, and his “philosophy, which he urged on others and truly tried to live by himself, was: we may be doomed, but each man must define himself anew each day by his own actions” (Thomas, 2000, p. 22). I’ve failed at a number of things, but I figure that each day is another chance to do it right. Here’s to hoping the tide is changeable

Cheers my friend!
Steven

The term “mainstream media” is defined by the right wing as any opinion that doesn’t agree with them, so obviously the media is liberal. It’s kind of ironic that we have so many right wing talk shows on our liberal media. The left wing is just as bad, when Palin showed her inexperience in the national spotlight, she was labeled an idiot. She was just woefully unprepared for a position of that stature, but she isn’t stupid.

I used to get upset that the left or right wing media was unfairly influencing peoples decisions, but now I don’t think that it works that way at all. The left or right wing leaners listen to their side of the media because that’s what they want to hear. It doesn’t matter if it’s accurate, or even a lie, it gives them a talking point to use on the other side. The end justifies the means is the name of the game.

Nice photo and I will add the book to my list. Don’t get as much read as I would like in the summer but should start cranking up after harvest.

Tom