Earlier today, NewsBusters contributor Pam Meister picked up on the MSNBC investigation into journalists' political contributions. Nearly 87 percent of the journalists gave exclusively to Democratic candidates.
Now some journos are reacting, and it seems the ones at Time magazine don't see the big deal.
Aside from Time.com Washington editor Ana Marie Cox's dismissive blog entry entitled, "OMG OMG TEH BIAS TEH BIAS," there's this gem from the magazine's James Poniewozik:
I haven't myself made any political donations since I've been with Time, as far as I remember, owing mostly to being a cheap bastard. (Time's policy allows political donations, although according to MSNBC's list, only one staffer has taken advantage of that, so I'm guessing most of my co-workers are as tightfisted as I am.) Scratch that: I did attend a fundraiser for John Kerry in 2004, which I believe Mrs. Tuned In paid for, that consisted of a $20-a-ticket concert in a friend's backyard by children's folk-rock musician Dan Zanes. There is probably no more yuppie-Brooklyn phenomenon than a Toddlers Against Bush concert.
Of course, I'm an opinion writer to begin with, and I don't think I'm especially coy about my political leanings, which are more or less on the libertarian side of liberal.
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This story is a great example
June 21, 2007 - 12:54 ET by Darth DutchThis story is a great example of why so many people believe there is a bias in news reporting. A quote from the link says:
"At least by giving money to candidates, they're being transparent about it."
But that's just it. Reporters hold on to this facade that they are objective and they are able to divorce their personal feelings from a story and accurately and fairly provide both sides of a story. Contrary to what the quote says, reporters are NOT transparent about it. It took some digging to find out what they did. If they were honest, they would tell us so in their news broadcasts and news writings. But they don't. As such, they are trying to maintain this objective facade. At least if they were up front about it, I would have some respect for them.
Plus, common sense tells us what people do when no one is looking reveals their true beliefs and attitudes. Reporters can tell us all day long that there is not a liberal bias in their news reporting, but when they overwhelmingly as a group contribute and support financially and otherwise one political party over another, it certainly is cause for questioning their objectivity.
Dutch
She must've borrowed her defe
June 21, 2007 - 13:35 ET by Chris NormanShe must've borrowed her defense from the Clinton Rapid Response Team: sarcastic exaggerated dismissal of the facts.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
}}----> Kerry Fundraiser?
June 21, 2007 - 14:32 ET by Cool ArrowAnd this fundraiser featured R Kelly who gave my kid a private concert in the back room.
Afterwords while I lay in John Kerry's arms he wept as he told me how he was a war criminal on par with Jennjis Khan. I told him "Don't cry daddy" and we held each other close for the rest of the night.
And it only cost $20 bucks. Cheaper than downtown.
There isn't any big deal abou
June 21, 2007 - 14:37 ET by bigtimerThere isn't any big deal about this...
If they would just tell the truth about their obvious bias when so-called non-biased reporters/journalists declare there isn't any bias.
Of course there is...it is OBVIOUS!
Geesh....
bt - been my contention for a
June 22, 2007 - 08:47 ET by FastEdbt - been my contention for a long time - let us know what you think (speaking to "reporters and other merry media men") and then go on with your "news casts". However, if they were to do that, I'm wondering how long they would last? (see airhead amerika)
Problem though, with the bias that has gone on for so long, would the 'average' viewer know the difference?
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
There is no "libertarian side of liberal"
June 21, 2007 - 14:58 ET by Ten7sThe title says it all. By saying "TEH BIAS", Ms. Cox is sneering at anyone concerned about extreme (87%) liberal/Democrat bias in the media. "TEH" is the internet equivalent of mocking someone in a derisive voice, like children do.
And to top it off, she hasn't a clue about politics. There is no "libertarian side of liberal"; they are opposites. Liberals are collectivists, always searching for gov't solutions. Liberals are individualists, trying to get gov't OUT of everyone's lives. There is a "libertarian side of conservatism" but NOT of liberalism. But I don't expect liberals to understand this because saying "libertarian side of liberal" is trendy and FEELS nice to say. AND the liberal intellectuals don't want you to see the 'totalitarian side of liberalism'.
}}----> Ten 7s be fair
June 21, 2007 - 15:22 ET by Cool ArrowYou make fun of her spelling "TEH BIAS", then in the last sentence of your post you refer to "liberal intellectuals".
My question is this: What is a Liberal intellectual?
"What is a Liberal int
June 21, 2007 - 15:28 ET by MightyMouth"What is a Liberal intellectual?"
Nothing, the two words cancel each other out. See Ann Coulter, she is coming out with a new book.
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
}}----> Thanks MM
June 21, 2007 - 15:46 ET by Cool ArrowI'd forgotten it was Ann Coulter day. I read her every week. Well, duh. I am a Conservative after all.
I don't think she likes that guy Dyphthong much.
No problemo, anything I can
June 21, 2007 - 15:56 ET by MightyMouthNo problemo, anything I can do to help Ann make her next pile o' bling, I be happy to doo!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
I don't think you quite under
June 21, 2007 - 16:07 ET by Ten7sI don't think you quite understand "TEH". It is intentionally used to berate, mock or sneer at opponents, in this case people concerned about "BIAS" in the media. So I wasn't making fun of her spelling but merely explaining the usage of "TEH" to those who may not be familiar with it.
A "Liberal intellectual" is a type of collectivist who understands the ideology behind the irrational Liberal stances on "issues" AND who holds a position of cultural authority to speak on, teach and/or promote their ideology. They almost always understand and almost always obsfucate the ideas held by various political persuasions (including their own).
}}----> Sorry Ten7s
June 21, 2007 - 16:13 ET by Cool ArrowGuess I still don't know what TEH means. I don't keep many liberal friends.
CA...I don't understand what
June 21, 2007 - 16:23 ET by bigtimerCA...
I don't understand what TEH means either...
I thought it was a typo for THE...
....silly me...
LMAO!
I found this at http://www.ur
June 21, 2007 - 22:34 ET by stratmanI found this at http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=teh. This explains everything!
4. teh
An expression used by idiots to helpfully identify themselves to other idiots.
phermones for ijits?
June 21, 2007 - 22:39 ET byphermones for ijits?
strat...Thanks...I thought of
June 21, 2007 - 22:45 ET by bigtimerstrat...
Thanks...I thought of looking there earlier but forgot about it, plus I don't know why but just thought that couldn't be there the way it was used....
Like I said earlier....
....silly me....
I am ROFLMAO!
The definition is too funny...let alone perfect.
You know you're getting old w
June 21, 2007 - 23:03 ET by stratmanYou know you're getting old when you need a dictionary to understand people younger than yourself.
I'm still laughing over that definition. Every once in a while the world makes sense.
" . getting old . . need
June 22, 2007 - 08:53 ET by FastEd" . getting old . . need a dictionary . ." - at least you know what a dictionary is. Most public schools have forgotten to teach the proper use of the language and that there are words beyond what is heard on the steet. And, you can see the results of that education here, where some of our more enlightened think they are the reincarnations of e.e.cummings.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
"What is a Liberal int
June 21, 2007 - 17:41 ET by Jerry"What is a Liberal intellectual?"
"Liberal Intellectual" is a phrase that proves that opposites attract.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
"..owing mostly to bei
June 21, 2007 - 17:48 ET by Jerry"..owing mostly to being a cheap bastard...."
Finally some truthful, non-biased reporting.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
I guess no more Dan Zane's House Party
June 21, 2007 - 19:12 ET by terrigUuuggghhh! You know, I got my kids the "Dan Zane's House Party" cd and since they don't really listen to it that much, I think I'll sell it on Amazon. Now, I'm really not surprised at this but I am disappointed. Why can't this guy just do his stupid songs on the Disney channel and stay out of politics. Please don't tell me the Wiggles did this as well??
I always thought Dan Zane loo
June 22, 2007 - 08:28 ET by JacksonCalhounI always thought Dan Zane looked like Keith Richards minus the 20 year heroin addiction (my only 5 years in his case).
Ugh, I shudder at "children's folk rock" musicians because whenever I see them their hippie stench just permeates the room. The one who sings at my kid's preschool has a car plastered with lefty bumper stickers.
The Wiggles, they're from Oz, so at least they have some good sense about them.
}}----> The Wiggles
June 22, 2007 - 08:37 ET by Cool ArrowThe Wiggles are OK, It's the Waggers I'm worried about.