The above quote is actually the title of a book by liberal journalist Eric Alterman. (No, I’m not linking the book.) I didn’t buy or read the book, but the title itself tells me all I need to know. (Our time on this earth is finite.) Apparently the mainstream news media is either not liberal at all to Alterman, or, if it is liberal, it isn’t THAT bad.
Whatever. Anyone who writes a book seriously doubting the blatant advocacy of the media must be in such severe denial about the proverbial elephant standing in the living room that it’s hard to take any such arguments or assertions seriously.
Fortunately, the public is not as blind. According to Rasmussen Reports, the public would likely disagree with the sentiment that the media is unbiased or objective, at least in regard to election coverage.
Voters Give Media Failing Grades in Objectivity for Election 2008
Just 17% of voters nationwide believe that most reporters try to offer unbiased coverage of election campaigns. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that four times as many—68%–believe most reporters try to help the candidate that they want to win.
The perception that reporters are advocates rather than observers is held by 82% of Republicans, 56% of Democrats, and 69% of voters not affiliated with either major party. The skepticism about reporters cuts across income, racial, gender, and age barriers.
When 56% of Democrats see a problem with the media, that problem must be quite serious.
Ideologically, political liberals give the least pessimistic assessment of reporters, but even 50% of those on the political left see bias. Thirty-three percent (33%) of liberals believe most reporters try to be objective. Moderates, by a 65% to 17% margin, see reporters as advocates, not scribes. Among political conservatives, only 7% see reporters as objective while 83% believe they are biased.
Given these results, it’s not surprising that 76% of voters believe the media has too much power and influence over elections. Just 3% believe the Fourth Estate has too little influence while 16% say the balance is about right.
Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Republicans believe the media has too much influence along with 80% of unaffiliated voters and 65% of Democrats.
Voters have little doubt as to who is benefitting [sic] from the media coverage this year—Barack Obama. Fifty-four percent (54%) say Obama has gotten the best coverage so far. Twenty-two percent (22%) say McCain has received the most favorable coverage while 14% say that Hillary got the best treatment.
Filed under: Barack Obama / The Messiah, Hillary Clinton, John McCain/Sarah Palin, What Liberal Media?
