As a researcher who favors studying how the media presents information (particularly news media) I found it expected and somewhat disheartening that the media bias is quite evident as one watched the convention speeches at the DNC on Monday evening. On MSNBC there was the flowering of optimism that even though party unity is of concern, MSNBC made it evident that the Dems would come together sooner rather than later. Pay close attention to what the commentators say. But also watch the ancillary messages, particularly those that scroll at the bottom of the TV screen. “News” that is really opinion adds to the commentary.
On Fox News, the same messages promoted by the DNC speakers are presented as dismal, and the idea of unity is lifted up as such a major hurdle that the Dems will have a difficult if not impossible time at rectifying it. Clinton and Obama are at odds, according to Fox. And they will remind the viewer of this constantly. The scroller at the bottom of the Fox News channel rolls opinion that is evidently one-sided.
Stay tuned for the rest of the week, particularly when Hillary speaks. Switch between the two news channels and see if there is not evident bias and not a habit of traditional journalistic news reporting. Then watch the RNC next week to see if the roles reverse.
-Pete Galarneau, Assistant Professor of Communication
1 comment:
The Media's negative influence on elections is a sad reality. I see the logo OBAMA BIDEN as the media's subliminal influence to associate OSAMA BINLADEN with the dems.
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