Are the news media biased? Journalist turned PR pros says, ‘Yes, but …’
People love to ask current and former journalists whether the Fourth Estate is biased. Here’s what an ex-CNN and ABC News staffer tells them.
The answer isn’t as straightforward as they think. I usually answer the “Are the media biased?” question with a three-part, “yes, but” answer.
Many people believe the media have a left-wing bias. Are they right?
1. Yes, I believe there’s a left-leaning bias. Numerous surveys over the past decade have found an undeniable left-leaning bias in the mainstream media.
In my experience working in newsrooms at ABC News and CNN, I’ve observed few journalists purposely injecting their personal political biases into their reporting.
Their biases work in more subtle (and often unconscious) ways, helping to guide their decisions regarding which stories to cover and which “experts” to believe. The environmental whistleblower, for example, will usually be regarded more credibly than the corporate CEO.
In recent years, the right-wing media have gained significant traction. Bias is no longer the sole province of left-leaning news organizations.
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