Your Mind or Government - Who Is Pulling the Strings in the Us Media System?

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Therefore, it appears that while there are obvious outliers which mold their reporting around respective political affiliations, the major players in the United State’s media industry still offer accessible and extensive coverage on both sides of national debates. In addition, as many informed citizens recognize the importance of understanding the numerous opinions and arguments which shape the positions of both political parties, these major networks are still vastly relied upon as a place for one to gain a holistic understanding of a story. So, as opposed to the common misconception of the industry as a whole affiliating with one political party or the other, the Hostile Media Effect should be observed in the context of the contemporary media environment, where average citizens are overexposed to new forms partisan outlets that often times contradict their political beliefs.

That is not to say that there isn't a place for these new partisan publications in the industry. These sources may prove useful in helping citizens seek out arguments and perspectives from other political parties on issues that matter to them. However, citizens must use caution and understand the political, ideological, and economic influences that drive the depiction of stories by these publications. In addition, they must be careful not to use these publications to draw overall conclusions about political partisanship in the United State’s media industry, as major networks that dominate it still provide citizens with necessary information, arguments, and perspectives from both sides aisle.

References

Bellinson. S. (2016, March, 6). Interview type [phone interview].

Freidland, L. (2016, January). Agenda Setting. Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication. Lecture given at University of Wisconsin— Madison.

Freidland, L. (2016, February). Hostile Media Phenomena. Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication. Lecture given at University of Wisconsin— Madison.

Freidland, L. (2016, February). Norms and Practices of Journalism (2)— Truths, Facts, and values. Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication. Lecture given at University of Wisconsin— Madison.

Kovach, Bill. & Rosenstiel, Tom. Blur: How to Know Whats Real in the Age of Information Overload. New York: Bloomsbury USA.

Kunkle, L. (2016, March, 6). Interview types [phone interview].

Mitchell, Amy. & Gottfried, Jeffery. &,Jocelyn, Kiley. & Katerina, Matsa. Political Polerization & Media Habits. [Analysis]. Retrieved from http://www.journalism.org/2014/10/21/political-polarization-media-habits/> .

Watts , Mark. & Domke, David. & Shah Davan. & Fan, David. Elite cues and media bias in presidential campaigns: explaining public perceptions of a liberal press. Communications Research. Vol 26 (No. 2), pg 144-175. retrieved from sagepub.

Appendix

Susan Bellinson is a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Einstein Hospital in New York and self identifies as strongly democrat. She has long been politically active in her community and the greater New York area through multiple outlets such as registering her patients to vote and protesting in the Occupy Wall Street Movement.

1. News consumption.

What news outlets do they prefer?

NPR everyday, CNN, MSNBC, radio based traditional news because they’re convenient. Also satire news programs such as Jimmy Fallon and other late night shows because they make a lot of the issues palatable that would otherwise drive me crazy.

How regularly do they get news from their preferred sites?

Daily

Why they like these sites and not others? Which sites they don’t like? Why?

Convenience. I tune in on the way to work or enjoy relaxing to shows at night.

How much news do they get from their social networks? Do they find the news forwarded for them by their social networks to be useful?

I use Facebook more to send political articles out to my friends from sources like People for the American Way and moveon.org that I’m constantly getting in my email.

2. Political ideology. Ask them to explain to you some of their positions on political issues.

What political candidates they like in the current electoral cycle?

I somewhat like Bernie and his ideas but I don't think he’ll be able to get anything done with the current political climate we have in Washington.

Are they going to vote in the next presidential election? Why or why not?

For who are thy going to vote?

Yes, for Hillary. Unless Bloomberg joins the race if Trump wins the Republican Nomination.

3. Media bias.

Ask them if the media are biased in the United States?

Media is biased towards their own needs and rating. For example, Trump is getting as much coverage as he is because he's entertaining to watch! He's getting more new people involved in politics as well, so I guess in that sense he's not that bad of a guy.

If they think the media are biased, in what direction?

But certain publications and not others, (FOX rep. MSNBC dem.) they don’t focus on issues that involve members of their party. These two publications are opposite ends of the extreme. However, Publications which fall in the middle tend to shift their coverage of both parties. Some days you’ll here more about one party then the other, it just depends on who’s saying what and who’s more interesting that day.

What evidence can they provide you of this bias?

What about the media they mentioned in section 1. Are these also biased? Why or why not?

well the ones she watches are completely biased towards liberals like John Stewart , Colbert, Fallon People for the American Way.

Do they prefer media that share their point of view, or a neutral media?

I

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