Finding Biases on the Bus (Survey of Campaign reporters)

[Rose Siding]

AS John Kerry celebrates his nomination with a coast-to-coast bus trip (this may be the first time the word "celebrates" has appeared so close to "coast-to-coast bus trip") conservatives are complaining about his good press. They say that journalists' liberal bias has colored the reviews of the Democratic convention and his speech.

But do journalists really want John Kerry to defeat George W. Bush? It depends where they work and how you ask the question, at least according to the unscientific survey we conducted last weekend during a press party at the convention. We got anonymous answers from 153 journalists, about a third of them based in Washington.

When asked who would be a better president, the journalists from outside the Beltway picked Mr. Kerry 3 to 1, and the ones from Washington favored him 12 to 1. Those results jibe with previous surveys over the past two decades showing that journalists tend to be Democrats, especially the ones based in Washington. Some surveys have found that more than 80 percent of the Beltway press corps votes Democratic.

But political ideology isn't the only possible bias. Journalists also have a professional bias: they need good stories to make the front page and get on the air....more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/01/politics/campaign/01points.html?ei=5090&en=11800ba25496a8cc&ex=1249099200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&adxnnlx=1091454709-T7Pu3KyfhIblIiuqgUoESg

[KittyWampus]

1. Journalists PERSONAL Preference Means Squat

so why even mention it?

[Caution]

2. so basically, the people not directly working for the govt with the

most knowledge about the govt in DC favor Kerry 12-1. Is this liberal bias or an indictment of the Bush administration?

[doctorbombeigh]

5. If the Nixon days tell us anything -

it's probably an indictment of the Bush administration. They knew how awful Nixon was then, and they know how bad Bush is now.

Really - these Bush people aren't very smart. They piss off big chunks of their base, which would have been risky enough. Then they piss off the Congress, the CIA and the press, a lethal trifecta in itself. He was weak when he was appointed, he blew the 9/11 factor in Iraq. Why they haven't finished him off yet is beyond me.

What we need are a few more leaks. It's not worth hoping that the material to leak isn't there with these guys. We know it's there.

[PATRICK]

3. Whoa

how does this jibe with the jeering and hostility against Gore back in 2000 in the same situation. The bias was so thick and adolescent it was scandalous enough to be story in itself. You mean that situation- in attitude at least- has turned around 360 degrees?

That is an incredibly good sign but not one we are getting from the top of the anchor presence at the convention. Is it more like it is not negative and like an elite that will accept but not enthuse over other people's choice. Nor does control over the Rightwingnut parrot jungle reside with the preferences of the majority.

There should be some media people and Gore people who can compare this to the past.

[PATRICK]

4. Whoa

how does this jibe with the jeering and hostility against Gore back in 2000 in the same situation? The bias was so thick and adolescent it was scandalous enough to be a story in itself. You mean that situation- in attitude at least- has turned around 360 degrees?

That is an incredibly good sign but not one we are getting from the top of the anchor presence at the convention. Is it more like it is not negative and like an elite that will accept but not enthuse over other people's choice. Nor does control over the Rightwingnut parrot jungle reside with the preferences of the majority.

There should be some media people and Gore people who can compare this to the past.

[2Design]

6. I don't see this - conservatives are complaining about his good press

I have watched abc nightline and world news and feel they are NOT kind to kerry and that they spend way more time on bush and they pan the crowds. With kerry they do NOT pan the crowds and immediately attack him with questions they woulnd't even think of asking bush.

Asking Kerry exactly what he would do different in the war before he takes over, is asking for the game plan so Bush can do it .....

[saracat]

7. Basically, they would sell us down the river

for the byline on a good story.They realise that Kerry is the better man and will vote for him but will continue to give Bush more coverage because he is better news fodder because he is so terrible.Sheesh. No wonder we are in trouble. You think the'd use their "liberal leanings" to get a better president!
But negative sells and positive doesn't unfortunately. Whens the last time anyone saw a "happy,happy! Newscast? And I'll bet you wouldn't be interested in it either. It's not human nature. Sigh.

[0rganism]

8. And yet, somehow, the only reporter CNN could find to biograph Kerry was

CANDY CROWLEY

It doesn't matter how liberal the reporters are, as long as the editors control the content and the corporate masters control the editors. The "liberal media" is exactly as liberal as its owners allow it to be.

[grasswire]

9. scooped ya this morning in GD <g>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2137293&mesg_id=2137293

Some comments over there.

[PeaceProgProsp]

10. Then alot of them are going to hell

because they're willing to write things they don't even believe are true.

[TahitiNut]

11. Funny how familiarity breeds contempt ...

... for the Republicans. Imagine! People whose job it is to keep track of what's actually going on and dig for behind-the-scenes information - and they prefer Democrats? Go figure. It's too damned bad that the editors and publishers are owned and operated by the corporatists on the right wing. They made damned sure the news tilts the other way. It's easy. They have the "cover and concealment" of the front-line cannon fodder.

[DaveSZ]

12. It's about who OWNS the media

nt

[tlcandie]

13. I think the problem or the disconnected part of this story is that

they are talking to the journalists who do all the foot and leg work, but not to the administrators and people who run the companies.

The bosses are rethugs for the most part and THEY determine the slant and tone of the stories, NOT the reporters or journalists.

EDIT: I see a couple have already stated this... sincerest apologies as I didn't read all the way through the thread! *looks embarassed*

[Mountainman]

14. Will conservatives complain if the RNC gets good reviews?

The only place were I didn't see a repub on TV during the DNC was on C-Span. CNN had all wingnuts all the time.