LIBERAL BIAS IN THE MEDIA

Questions about whether modern journalism is tainted with a liberal bias has been wrestled with for many years--conservatives arguing yes and journalists fervently saying no. I believe that there is a visible liberal bias in print and televised media--more so on television. From the old networks; NBC, CBS, and ABC, to cable networks like liberal tycoon Ted Turner's creation, CNN, liberalism is very much alive and thriving and conservative views are continually squashed.

You don't even have to go far to see the liberal bias. Just open up an issue of the Alligator or the Gainesville Sun. Neither publication present the conservative view fairly or balanced. An explanation may be that both papers are just pandering to their readership--registered Democrats outnumber Republicans almost 3 to 1 in Alachua County. Additionally, at the college level, the vast majority of professors pledge allegiance to the Democrat Party.

As a result, liberal ideals are indoctrinated into journalism students, who then carry their beliefs into the mainstream media. Evidence of this can be found in the 1992 election where 89 percent of journalists voted for Bill Clinton. Additional evidence is the American Society of Newpaper Editors report published July 7, 1997, that stated only 15 percent of the newsroom labeled itself conservative/Republican or leaning in that direction in 1996, down from 22 percent in 1988. On the other hand, Liberal/Democrats or leaning in that direction was a whopping 61 percent.

Next