I found the power point presentation on media bias during the Civil War to be very intriguing in terms of how the media has evolved over the years and at the same time retained many of the same qualities. I think it is impossible for news or media coverage to be unbiased. Every aspect of media coverage can be presented in numerous forms and holds the bias and intentions of a certain target audience. During the Civil War, the two audiences of news coverage were the confederates and the union. Two complete opposite opponents presented news and media coverage from rival points of view. Each side used the news and media coverage of the war to rally hope and inspire armies that they were fighting for a winning cause. Blatant lies about victories and defeats in battle were printed in papers. Fact and fiction was inseparable between these opposing papers, yet today the news is not completely different.
Different channels, newspapers and other news medians have a labeled bias. FOX News appeals to a certain demographic, while NBC may appeal to a different audience. A good majority of people base their TV viewing according to these perceptions of what the news will be like. People can basically choose what news they want to hear. Regardless of popular perception or belief, opposing news stories can be found. When people watch certain channels or news reporters there is an anticipation of the ideology behind the news coverage that will be presented. Similarly, the South and North anticipated success stories in the paper for their respective sides. There was an understanding between these rival news sources to essentially give their people what they wanted. People from the North and South expected inspiring news for their armies and it was an excepted bias.
News is very open ended and needs to be interpreted. Straight facts are boring and dry and hold no substance by themselves. Often time the job of media members is to create stories where there are none or spin stories to make them enticing and interesting. Media bias will continue to exist because it has become an essential aspect of news itself. News coverage without bias is simply boring and almost impossible to truly achieve.
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3 comments:
i think you're right about a lack of bias being impossible. Even if a newspaper reports ONLY facts, without opinions or unnecessary information, it is still unlikely that they will get ALL the relevant facts--and what you don't say is just as important as what you do say.
And, of course, there is always the bias based on the readers (or viewers these days). You're right; people DO choose what they want to watch, and as long as that is possible there will be some bias in the media
But i'm not sure bias is always a bad thing; sometimes it polarizes people but other times it just raises new points someone may not have considered before. i think the most important thing as a consumer is to look at news with a critical and intelligent eye.
Shanil, I wrote my blog on the same topic, and I agree with this post. I think you are dead on when you show the similarities between the media today and during the civil war. I think very little has changed. One of the few differences is that today, newspapers and TV shows have are more reliable for the facts they present and the stories they cover. This is a product of living in a more global society, where people can access information from anywhere in the world and check facts.
Another interesting point you make is that people can ultimately choose what news they hear. Like you write, FOX News and MSNBC present completely different views, causing the public to be complacent with their fews. I think it is important to broaden your perspectives to move in a positive direction.
Of course certain regions are going to listen to the media that is around them. I am going to trust the Dallas morning news over the Boston globe. Media can be used to inspire people like you said, and it can also be used to frighten people. In the news you always hear of rapist, and robbers and the deadly disease in cheese wiz. The media has been putting fright into people since the beginning of time. They do this so the audience stays interested and will trust the people giving them their information. The media will always be bias and the media will always put unnecessary fear into our lives until the last newspaper is printed, the last cord is unplugged from the wall and the last internet connection goes down.
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