Why do people put up with biased media?

Question

In today's world it is sadly obvious that mainstream media is heavily slanted. Personal viewpoints have taken the place of respectable journalism and Big Business throws it's weight around with no remorse. Many people understand this, and many people are angered by this (Rep.'s and Dem.'s alike), but why do so many people continue to put up with this?

1) Why do we continue to support (consume) slanted media?

And, more importantly, is there even an alternative?

2) Are there any respectable sources of media in this country anymore?

I understand that anytime someone reports something, whether it's written journalism or TV news, that there will always be a certain unavoidable "filter" or "bias." However this is NOT what I'm referring to. What I mean by slanted is when a "News Organization" DELIBERATELY SKEWS AND FRAMES INFORMATION FOR IT'S OWN BENEFIT. And I also understand that all television programs are not journalism. But I've always been under the impression that something labeled News was to be considered journalism.

Should television companys who create programming labeled news be subject to stricter review by the FCC?

I.E. should Lou Dobbs be fined for his comment about increased reports or leprosy being linked to illegal immigration.

Answer 1

Because people are biased.

Answer 2

not ready to make their own news. yes there are respectable sources just look for stories to be found among citizens. put together a differeing news source. one thing can puzzle anyonewhy do the police arrest protesters as the protesters have the right to do so. after this statements are made in newspapers about the streets being unsafe and crime being a problem. there is a constant refrain of no one was there to help the victim that had been attacked by a mugger none intervened there were not enough police on the streets the police have only limited manpower. then scenes of riot police beating protesters doing so in protest of globalization are shown and a voice over explaining a riot has occured . there seem to be no shortage of police to protect people that the movies reapetadly portray as being more important than ordinary people as worthy of police protection from people oppossed to their policies. yet this constant talk of the streets being unsafe at night when quite often they are full of protesters. and also of the police.and there is constant worry over the pirana when the great white shark is swimming in the waters metaphoriclly. not to say the trauma of the person mugged or worse but there are reasons why they had less protection and these are them. eventually the police will not operate in the law even though they will patrol the streets there will be no law. criminals are portrayed as people without much money most often some sinister looking man . not someone wearing an expensive suit and an equally expensive ty . also it is assumed or portrayed that a women will be attacked in a dark location and be consciouswhen this is not always the case. sometimes she could be passed out at a party when it occured or asleep. which raises another concern in places with no judicial over view or protection of law the prisoners could be tortured and the women tortured and assaulted by the guards of these places. if the police are not made to comply with the law these things might happen. it seems though that time and time again there are those who do not see people as such but as obstacles to the process of collecticting wealth. they will be able to place money above humanity. it is sad that they cannot see the effect this has had on people that this approach leads nowhere just into another cycle of the same which will only end if broken for all time. minerals are just minerals and nothing not even diamonds last forever. flesh is much more fragile and while it does not last as long is something as beatifull as a diamond and has an importance that transcends monetary value even were such to be placed on it it would never be enough as a human being is much more than a collection of cash a human is blood ,sinew,and bone, one human brain is more technologically efficient than any weapon in the arsenal of any country. this is what needs to be used in the media this is the source to fall back on it is a reliable resource. this not the television set is really the source of the news and can be found nowhere else except your skull.

Answer 3

Sensationalist media isn't 'journalism,' per se, it's 'info-tainment.' You can take or leave it; you don't have to subscribe to it. That's the beauty of a free society such as ours.

I'm a little confused as to what you deem unslanted. Would that be governmental data? That, too, has a nationalist slant. Everything you could possibly read was written through someone's filter, so it's a matter of who you learn to trust as a source for news.

I judge my news often by the people delivering it, and although I have to consider those people truthful, I also realize they are telling me their perception of the story. The story is by nature limited to the research completed and the filter of the news person (as well as that of the news organization).

As a moderate, I see your point about the partisan nature of most organizations within the mainstream media. However, we can pick and choose stories to latch onto as readers, limiting the sources that are too blatant in their clear bias of coverage. It is fully up to the reader to decide what news is most worthy of attention to us, and which news people are most likely to give that story to us straight.

With all the messages transmitting throughout the globe, it is daunting to discern the truth, especially when the truth can be a lie in another society. So you see, everything written is slanted, and it's simply impossible to read everything there is to know about any given story.

Answer 4

Well you could always stop watching. People love to complain about the media while they are watching 4 hours of television every day. Read the newspaper for your news and maybe read a book instead of watching the zombie tube.

Answer 5

Sensationalism sells. Look how many people stop to gawk and hold up traffic for a minor accident on the side of the road. You will even have like 20 police cars and it's a fender bender. America loves blood and gore in their stories. Desensitized until it happens to them. It's a shame, shame, shame.

Answer 6

Because that's ALL there is. We ALL have Opinions- and some of those are going to invariably "leak" into our "reporting" if THAT's what our Profession is. If YOU don't like what you see or hear- then provide your OWN version of the news, & ignore the rest. YOUR version will be "biased" also- & certainly people will complain about YOURS. The Choices are always OURS- we take the ones we like- & complain about the ones we DON'T. Such is life.

Answer 7

Because people buy all the things that feed corporate giants who own news companies. Things like reality shows, pretty shoes, useless electronics, nice cars...etc. All those things pay for it.

Answer 8

You do understand that you don't pay anything for most media right?

You get what you pay for.

Answer 9

Amen, i don't want national news on my local channel, & i don't want entertainment on national news? let me know i don't really know, other than international news, what the answer is

Answer 10

They've been slanted for so long they don't even know they are BENT!!