Posted on 05/05/2009 7:53:29 AM PDT by SmithL
Why are most newspaper reporters and editors liberal? I've been working in the business for more than 20 years, and I can't give a quick, definitive answer to the question. But I do think a contributing factor is that editors, like other managers, tend to hire and reward staffers who think as they do. They see their positions as neutral, which is human nature - and is reinforced by the fact that the folks in the desks around them vote the same way they do.
When they read about complaints of media bias, editors write the criticism off because they see reporters every day trying to cover stories fairly and succeeding. They fail to notice that their shared ideology limits what they see as stories.
Which is why, I believe, that Fox News Channel ratings are so high. As the New York Times reported, CNN reached 271,000 viewers ages 25 to 54 in prime time in April, less than half of Fox News' 668,000. In the first quarter of 2009, Fox News beat CNN and MSNBC combined in the Nielsen ratings.
Liberals mock the news network's "fair and balanced" slogan. But if you read your average newspaper, then tune into Fox News or listen to conservative talk radio, it evens out. People hungry for a conservative outlook don't believe they see their values in the news or features pages. Liberal newspapers helped build conservative media.
I should note that there's a world of difference between Fox during the day and Fox after dark. Primetime programs feature conservative hosts trading on their opinions, while Fox daytime features straight reportage.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
For your consideration.
Not to worry, they will get a bail out.
Just the fact that something like this appears in the SFC is encouraging. I still believe that the MSM, including newspapers, will make a hard turn right to save the business. If my theory that money trumps all else is correct, even ideology, then it must occur soon to save the business, and prove my theory correct.
LEANING? LEANING?
I suppose that the Socialist Worker “leans” Left too.
The first job of an editor is to ensure proper grammar. The SF Chronicle should go down in flames for letting in split infinitives. Probably they just want Saunders to look bad.
“Liberal newspapers helped build conservative media.”
So true and a message worth repeating over and over again.
I think this lady is the token conservative at the SF Chron. She is a good writer too. There are some conservatives in San Fran. The 2008 election had something on there about a sewer plant named after Bush and it was voted down. A few other liberal things were also voted down.
The trouble with reporting is that it’s too dull and boring, everyone envisions himself a knowledgeable pundit with something important to say — the only true reporting today is by the obituary writer.
No, the trouble is that it is a lot easier to express an opinion than to acquire and communicate accurate and useful information.
Reading a budget is hard. Explaining it is hard. But if written right you will read it sooner than someone's blovations about it.
Isn't Cinnamon Stillwell there too? Or is she at the SFGate?
I would have, until recently, agreed with you — that's certainly what we were incessantly told in grammar class. However, the rules have been heatedly debated; and are gradually being eased.
It seems that the rule originated in an attempt to import Latin rules of grammar. Since Latin infinitives cannot be split (being single words) — it followed that English infinitives should not be split. Or so went the reasoning.
Agree, Obama is not about to let the NYT, Washington Post, LA Times and some others go belly up as these are his main conduits so to spread his propaganda to the gullible and feeble minded who tend to believe everything they read.
How true! Reporters should only report who, what, when, where, and how. Editorials should comment on the why.
I'd be happy with a newspaper that simply printed what our various Congresscritters said, with no excess verbiage. IOW:
Today on the floor of the House, Congressman X said "I like cheese." Congressman Y responded, "I like jelly."
Let the readers figure it out.
MAY THE BITTER END COME SWIFTLY
At almost all newspapers, they might as well put a rack of soup bowls by the door. They can just drop off their brain on the way out, and pick up one off the rack when they return the next day - no labels needed, since the intelligence and reasoning processes are identical for all of them!
If we can’t uphold standards in formal written language, it is little wonder we can’t uphold standards in behavior.
Yes. They are simply extensions of Gibbs and Obama’s PR department.
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