Robert J. Samuelson's Picking Sides For The News

News organizations that report on stories in a fair, balanced and ethical manner are essential to the functionality of this nation. A citizen’s ability to make well-informed decisions hinges on a news organization’s ability to relay the most accurate information regarding the state of the nation, the changing condition of communities, and adjustments in the government. Journalism is no longer a one-sided conversation. Journalism is an interactive process that allows for readers and viewers to create a dialogue with journalists by utilizing mediums such as social networking sites and comment sections. Audiences have a say in what stories get reported and how news stories are presented to the masses. When news organizations fail to cover all

Objective journalism in the United States should be reconsidered to accommodate the demands of varied audiences and increased media outlets. With the media growing in magnitude and influence, many people are looking for fresh, like-minded news sources. Declines in newspaper readership and television news viewing among many Americans suggests that objectively reported news is a failing philosophy. Younger, more impressionable people may be ready for the advantages of the partisan news reporting style.

Journalists play an important part in the democratic process. Traditionally, the roles of the news media are to provide a forum for debate, represent opposing perspectives on the day’s issues and hold public officials accountable while serving their constituents. However, in recent decades, media has given way to biased forms of news— partisan media. In Matthew Levendusky’s “How Partisan Media Polarize America,” he explores if these partisan media influences viewers. The book’s second chapter, “What Do Partisan Media Actually Say?” concludes that partisan media promotes a larger agenda separately to Democrats and Republicans, attack the opposing side while denouncing compromise, and usually side with their candidate of choice during

Robert J. Samuelson’s essay, “Picking Sides for the News,” details the problem of citizens only hearing the news that they want to hear through statistics. Samuelson begins his essay by giving the reader the opinion of Americans in regards to news being reported. He goes on to say that Americans are increasingly choosing to listen to news based on “partisanship,” meaning conservatives listen to Republican news and liberals listen to Democratic news. Samuelson highlights the fact that most Americans are starting to not believe what they hear in the news, partisan growth resulting because of the distrust. Samuelson concludes his essay by describing why the reader should care. He believes the reader should care because the media’s bias’ are shaping

Often times people utilize certain sources and watch certain news channels because these viewers can relate to the views on these sources. It can make one believe that his/her perspective is correct simply because that is what the new source is providing. Viewers watch news sources that share the same opinions as their own, because these viewers are just as bias as the sources; these viewers favor one side, as do the news sources. John Stossel, a Fox News reporter discusses the book “Bias” with author Bernie Goldberg, an ex CBS News reporter. John expected for ABC to read the book and disagree with Bernie on the ABC news channel (Goldberg and Stossel). However, these people were proud of not reading the book and gave it no attention. Even if one does not agree with a certain viewpoint, it is very important to hear the different perspectives because it allows the viewer to see and hear other people’s opinion. Because most news sources do not include all sides, it becomes difficult for an individual to

The national media is instrumental in allowing the electorate to develop opinions about contemporary issues. The media is incredibly influential and its power can be wielded for the benefit of all, or it can become a detriment to society. Some media outlets seek to sensationalize the news, sacrificing informing voters in favor of the bottom line. It is through people and organizations who seek to provide the most accurate and impartial view of an event that popular sovereignty gains much of its power. A commitment to informing the public, even when the information conflicts with a writer’s social and political philosophy, can be a difficult one to maintain. Yet, reporters uphold it everyday. This can be seen in the news site CNN (Cable News Network), which is known for having a liberal bias. Despite said bias, it does not shy away from portraying Hillary Clinton, a democrat, as a flawed candidate in an effort to be unbiased. Such a commitment is essential to creating a political and social dialogue in our nation, and as the saying goes, “when dialogue fails, democracy fails.”

The news is here to inform the public about current events and issues around the world. However, each news station has its own bias towards certain events. Where some news stations are far left and others are far right, the viewers seem to be affected on both sides either way. Nonetheless, the viewers themselves are not completely innocent in this situation. The viewers will watch specific news stations to have their ideas or biases validated. People usually do not like to be challenged, especially after a hards day of work. This group of people consists of adults above the age of thirty. It would be nice to come home and have something to can agree with. The reasoning behind this, people tend to be more fond of news stations that gives them

News media has a largely, overwhelming influence on Americans in this day and age. Over the years, audiences have been exposed to various types of broadcast journalism, each with their own forms of bias to generate attention towards various topics. The audience perceive bias in news media program. An in-depth analysis of bias on opinionated news compared to non-opinionated news is key to figuring out how the news media may be sensationalizing a problem.

I will begin by explaining five factors from our reading from the textbook and from our class discussions that interfere with Americans’ access to news. I will explain what each factor is and then I will explain its impact on the consumption of news. Firstly, I will show how the decline of printed press affects the quality of the investigative reporting of newspapers. Then, I will show how soft news impedes on Americans’ ability to gain factual information. Next, I will talk about

People rely on journalist to report factual news and to make political points in helping the American citizen in making their decision when it comes time to vote. Since American’s do not have time to research every side to all the stories that have been published, they count on the media to portray both sides. However, you cannot believe everything that the media reports. If you were to pay attention to the reports given by journalists, you will find that they report on the stories that they feel they want to get out. And when it comes to politics, they have a way of leaning more towards a democratic view. The American media has a way of portraying the news in a bias way, which has been studied, researched, and reported to

There are many different hidden truths in the media that people do not know about due to the fact that the media emphasizes on just one particular point of view. Throughout the years, people have been biased in the media and the reason as to why this happens is that people choose to lean on one side such as republican, democrat, libertarian, or conservative. To be biased means to only be on one side of an argument or situation and only favor more of what one person has to say. There are a variety of different news channels in which they all tend to lean more on one side, there is not a single news channel that is on the same side as another. There are many current events that have multiple contentious between other news channels. The viewers

The content of the media is the fault of the people’s desire. Media publishers such as the New York Times Company, CBS, and Viacom are businesses raking in billions in revenue by meeting public demand. It is public demand for specific stories which dominate media publication and broadcasting. For example, the development of uber-conservative Breitbart and alt-left Slate developed as a result of conservative and liberal yearnings for biased media outlets. Before Breitbart and Slate, and other partisan news sources, established media either leaned center-right, or center-left but surges of conservatism and liberalism were visible in election returns during the turn of the 21st century. It is a result of this surge of liberalism and conservatism

In today’s new, the truth is often being withheld from viewers. Many of the stations that we trust to deliverer facts are now being filled with opinions. David Westin, the president of ABC News since 1997, provides insight to this growing problem. In his compelling argument, he states that news channels are often giving fact-less opinions and misleading the viewers. Often they cannot even distinguish between fact and opinion. Westin backs up his arguments using logic, facts, and personal experience. These means lead him to persuade the reader to believe that opinion journalism is, and will continue to be, a huge problem.

That being said, I do read more than I watch TV, and sometimes it is just painfully obvious which way a particular news website or newspaper slants their reporting. For example, I think one of the better newspapers as far as equal coverage of both the left and right is USA Today. They do an excellent job of presenting both sides of most arguments, and offer opinions that really make me angry sometimes, and some that I couldn’t agree with more. I think that’s the definition of “balance” in the media, and I enjoy it the most. There are others, however, that I read that pander to a specific political group; for example, the Kansas City Star. It never fails that the KC Star virtually attacks the right wing of the Republican party. They seem, to me, to be so impartial, that it takes away a great amount of their credibility; and I lean left!

The media is communication channels which information, entertainment, and instruction are published throughout the area. Media comprises both print and broadcast medium such as newspapers, magazine, television, radio, and internet. In fact, the media designed particularly to declare, enlighten, and supplement the lives of the community. In the past, verification the accuracy and objectivity was the most important quality of every reporter but this morality has changed, according to the Al Franken; “The biases the media has are much bigger than conservative or liberal. They're about getting ratings, about making money, about doing stories that are easy to cover,” since remuneration became an essential terminus of people including reporters and journalists. Therefore, nowadays, most partisan reporters choose to broadcast