Posted on 07/06/2010 8:33:31 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
As I mentioned Monday afternoon, I've got a new book sitting here that will be a dynamic book to read and blog about. It's one of the most encouraging and myth-busting books of the last two decades. The book is by Bradley R.E. Wright, and he's a professor at the University of Connecticut where he teaches sociology.
. ....Wright's book is about erroneous claims made on the basis of bad or insufficient data. So, in chp one he examines why we hear so much bad news about Christianity. Is the media biased? (How do you answer that question? Got some evidence? Does the evidence square with what the media do?) Not long ago, as a result of a Barna claim, it was said that in the public's opinion the only thing worse than being an evangelical was being a prostitute. He chases this down to show that the numbers are probably otherwise (there's a major glitch here in that so many responded "don't know" and that might mean they don't know what an "evangelical" is and this skews the data etc). Anyway, Brad Wright's using this as an illustration and the illustration needs to stick: be careful with what we claim. That stat was used and circulated it just got worse and worse.
“Wright’s book is about erroneous claims made on the basis of bad or insufficient data. So, in chp one he examines why we hear so much bad news about Christianity. Is the media biased? (How do you answer that question? Got some evidence? Does the evidence square with what the media do?)”
Well, with regard to your query about media bias, I do have evidence that the media are biased and that they write their bias. My comments are taken from something I wrote earlier so I have not checked to see if there is more recent data about media bias; however, I think the data below answers your question.
It has long by my belief media coverage is determined - in large measure - by what the media themselves bring to the writing or speaking or televising.
Perhaps you’ve read or heard of the 1981 Lichter - Rothman study which surveyed the political attitudes and voting patterns of the working media in major US media markets. This survey included all network media as well. This study documented a heavy liberal bias in the media. For example, study data showed 90 per cent of media favored abortion on demand, 81 per cent voted Democrat in every election cycle from 1964 to 1976 and most media blamed the United States for third world poverty. Study data also showed that 93 per cent of elite TV media never attend church while 85 per cent of average media personnel never attend church.
A 1985 study of 3,000 journalists and 621 newspapers conducted for the LA Times concluded, “members of the press are pre-dominantly liberal, considerably more liberal than the general public”. This study’s conclusions coincided with and affirmed the above Lichter - Rothman study.
The Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company also conducted a study: “American Values in the 80s: The Impact of Belief”. This study was based upon 2,018 one hour long interviews of members of the public and 1,700 hour long interviews of media leaders. Study findings showed 64 per cent of media believe abortion on demand is permissible and 58 per cent of media believe homosexuality is acceptable. Conversely, the study data showed 65 per cent of the general public believe abortion is immoral and 71 per cent believe homosexuality is immoral.
These studies certainly do suggest that media have a predisposition, a bias; one that is quite obvious in their coverage, especially in religious coverage. Without question, there is NOT a conservative agenda.
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