Political Media Analysis - Essay Example

Political Media Analysis Project Executive Summary: News and the media, has become a basic ingredient, if not a forceful source of information for the average American as MRC (2006) report that about seventy million Americans rely on broadcast television for their news as they form opinions based from what they hear snd see, and what they read on paper. This notion may be contested at some if not continuously throughout various periods of the US modern history through studies, but media morphs into modern technological forms now to include the internet and the so-called streaming media it brings forth to its audience. This would mean that the media grows, or takes new forms so that the previous established media which is radio, television, newspapers and magazines, have to adapt to changes in order to deliver (Nakamura & de Fontenay, 2006). Content, nevertheless may have remained over the decade but reader and audience perspective changed. Bias has been pointed out to the media by both politicians and constituent readers and audience as several studies have pointed out (MRC, 2006). Taking coverage from various media sources, related international topic regarding nuclear weapons and countries in question, national issue on privacy with regards to the war on terrorism, and local issue on Florida's real property taxes shall be discussed in the context that media bias personalization, dramatization, fragmentation, and the authority-disorder exists. This essay shall also answer the following questions: 1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the coverage by each source 2. What are the similarities and differences of the coverage 3. What are the implications for society and politics Discussion: Using NPR or National Public Radio as baseline for the international and national topics, this research will proceed with the premise that NPR is backed by public service broadcasting PBS headquartered in Arlington, Virginia with 348 public television stations (PBS, 2006). International Political Event: Nuclear weapons outside the United States NPR, undoubtedly provided a wide coverage on most of the international and national topics. An array of personalities are also featured in their interviews giving ample information and sides regarding current events and issues. On the issue of nuclear weapons involving Iran and North Korea, Washington Post writer Colum Lynch went on air with Jacki Lyden (NPR, 2006) in "All Things Considered." The issue on North Korea and Iran were presented in a way broadsheet newspapers would including buzzwords "UN trade sanctions", "nuclear weaponry", "Kim Il-Sung" as they appeared in the Washington Post (Linzer, 2006). In Linzer's report, the US is represented as "the Bush administration" personified by Assistant Secretary of State Stephen G. Rademaker. As noted by most conservative readers (The Pew Research Center, 2006; Media Research Center, 2006; and Groseclose and Milyo, 2005), emphasis was taken away from the issue that "may" have been pushed by the present US administration into neutral information that went, "world leaders attending a nuclear conference seemed to dismiss the U.S. call for punitive measures. Instead, they spoke of incentives and negotiations as a way of encouraging the Islamic republic to give up worrisome aspects of its energy program that could be diverted for weapons work" (Linzer, 2006). "Increase of pressure on Iran" as well as Bush' branding of "axis of evil" and North Korean ambassador's Pak Gil Yon's comments "increased US pressure a declaration of war," (AP, 2006). Both the CNN and the Washington Post posted coverage beyond US and contending countries Iran and North Korea on the issue. Meanwhile, local newspaper Miami Herald cannot be said to be left behind in content as updated coverage on the international issue were churned out, basically from international news agencies such as the Associated Press and Los Angles times Service. Its stories also carried out buzz words, including opinionated "Nut with a Nuke" headlines, "hardliners" and quotes from Iran and North Korea. With the advancement of communication technology where wiring news has been the trend for so long now, it can not be said that "local" newspapers or broadcast stations are behind their international and global counterparts. Many news stories, local and international are featured at almost the same comprehensive fashion by local, national and international media entities. Contents are also almost the same. It can be noted among the reports that there exists objectivity or the effort to present objective and balanced news by presenting both or all sides of an issue when it comes to the nuclear weapons issues in Iran and North Korea. But personalization and dramatization can be traced with the use of opinion as well as extreme words such as "nuts" and phrases as "one of the world's poorest and most dysfunctional countries will have become an unlikely gate-crasher in the exclusive club of nuclear powers," (Demick, 2006) but these were balanced by injections of "Others say that Kim Jong Il merely wanted respect, particularly from the United States and would have traded away his nuclear weapons in exchange for recognition of his regime," and "Even if you say that Kim Jong Il is paranoid, it doesn't mean that someone was not out to get him." Media biases have practical and theoretical causes. Practical limitations include the lack of resources by journalists to enable them to report a comprehensive story and facts. Editorial policies also dictate them to link selected facts for a coherent narrative (Newton, 1989). Likewise, government influence where news is sourced, overt and covert censorship, market forces and media entity ownership, selection of staff, preferences of intended audience, pressure from advertisers and allotted space or air time all contribute to the presentation of a news or issue (Wikipedia, 2006). It is therefore not surprising to note contempt or downgrading in the way news about nuclear weapons in Iran or North Korea as presented in apparently western or US owned media entities. But it is not a surprise to note that opposite or other views are included, as republicans or the present US administration, claim that media organizations are "liberal". (Please refer to survey and study results in Appendix, sourced from MRC, 2006). National Political Event: How far are the government authorities allowed to breach fundamental constitutional rights The NPR in its aim to present information and facts about the breach of fundamental constitutional rights in connection with the "war on terror" featured an interview with retired ABC News veteran Ted Koppel as hosted by Neal Conan in the episode called "The Price of Security" (2006) in September 11. Intelligence gathering that leads to wiretapping, extensive searches in airports that include disclosure not only of personal data about passengers but also their bank accounts, were issues that are gunned on the "Bush administration" (Conan, 2006). For public service broadcasting, the content of NPR's is liberal in such a way as to feature in-depth interviews of personalities with different view from the present administration. Meanwhile at CNN, stories and opinions of people commemorating the tragic 911 are featured. News on Europe and US agreement on sharing of passenger data were featured (AP, 2006) citing disclosure among 34 others credit card and travel details. Torture and strenuous interrogation were also mentioned in most stories As for Washington Post, a progression of the European-US talks regarding passenger data disclosure was closely monitored with the summit exposing fears of airline companies of being sued by their customers for breach of privacy (Brunnstrom, 2006). Bias on this coverage is hardly blamed on media as various individuals as well as organizations voice out their concerns and real life experience regarding harassment and intrusion on their privacy, a western trait that is constitutionally protected. Not only are US citizens wary of the outcomes of an exaggerated spying and tapping of phone lines (Conan, 2006) as well as torture of alleged terrorists without having to go to trial. The coverage for all news services can be said to be extensive and sweeping, as news reporters and journalists are part of the individuals that also have to undergo and experience the "security measures" of being searched and of their financial details being disclosed. At this instance, personalization, dramatization and Local Political Event: "Inflation in property taxes is making it difficult for Florida residents to afford their homes." With regards to local concern on property taxes, The Miami Herald had locals voice out their concerns and difficulties in tackling the inflation. In another story from The Wall Street Journal and Real Estate Journal (online), an extensive report on individual's opinion were presented (Gerena-Morales, 2006) that brought forth both sides of the spectrum. This report can be considered bias in a way that more contradictory opinions for the real property tax were included while only a brief portion was devoted to those for charging higher taxes on migratory residents in Florida. Nevertheless, Arthur and McNeal (2006) of Miami Herald as well as the paper's other feature stories more than make up for what could be lacking as local residents and their difficulties were featured. As Beck and Dye (1982) acknowledged, there are varying views in certain discussions as that of taxes. Foremost to consider is the demographic characteristics of taxpayers such as senior citizens, poor and blacks being supportive on government effort to ante collection than are other groups. On the other hand, higher income groups and homeowners pay more taxes, and most recently retirees or snowbirds who live partially in Florida within a given year are less supportive on tax inflation. But the news reports both featured residents and part-time residents of having problems in addressing their property taxes. In this instance, it can be pointed out on the Gerena-Morales (2006) report featuring the discontent of part-time residents over their taxes as that which Boykoff (2006) pointed out as "dissidents feel pressed to radicalize their tactics and rhetoric if they want to gain mass-media attention." Tax attitudes may be affected by perceptions of what others must pay. The tax burden in Florida is light relative to that in other states. We might expect Floridians who have lived in other states and who recognize the relative tax advantages of Florida, to be more satisfied with the state and local taxes they pay. Political Bias in Media Studies and Findings: Ownership is one big factor for the commission of media bias. As already mentioned elsewhere, most media corporations are of US origin and thereby news have to be centered on the cause of US. Below is a table showing broadcast media sourcing and funding: In various studies (MRC, 2006 and Groseclose & Milyo, 2005), it had been pointed out how media is perceived as biased by both viewers and readers. Results of the MRC (2006) reports stated that "Evidence of how hard journalists lean to the left was provided by S. Robert Lichter, then with George Washington University, in his groundbreaking 1980 survey of the media elite. Lichter's findings were authoritatively confirmed by the American Association of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) in 1988 and 1997 surveys. The most recent ASNE study surveyed 1,037 newspaper reporters found 61 percent identified themselves as/leaning "liberal/Democratic" compared to only 15 percent who identified themselves as/leaning "conservative/Republican." Source: Media Research Center Groseclose and Milyo (2005) research, on the other hand, revealed how entities ranged as "While the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal is conservative, the newspaper's news pages are liberal, even more liberal than The New York Times. The Drudge Report may have a right-wing reputation, but it leans left. Coverage by public television and radio is conservative compared to the rest of the mainstream media. Meanwhile, almost all major media outlets tilt to the left," with Groseclose disclosing how pronounced these biases are. The Pew Research Center (2006) nevertheless downplayed the biases found in their studies as it states, "the public sees less political bias in news coverage today than it did a decade ago. Although a solid majority -- 69% -- of Americans see news coverage as containing at least a fair amount of political bias, that percentage has decreased from 76% in 1989." All these findings nevertheless could be faulted as subjective where demographics is concerned. It may happened that the individuals surveyed have their own political leanings, and may find any news report that pictures his party leaning as "biased" without considering content and coverage. As journalists and media persons themselves admit as well a vote for their preferred party candidates, it cannot be avoided that their viewers and readers are subject to party leanings. Conclusion: In view of the above discussion, I am concluding that media bias is an everyday ordinary thing that is unavoidable and is subject to individual perception. While some biases may be blatant and downright disserving of the public, as the media owes allegiance for the public good, these concerns may be classified as "authority-disorder bias" where unlikely journalists have to report at the whim of media entity owners or their editors. Journalism and news reporting has been hailed as career or job centered on fair, objective and justified reporting and presentation of facts and information. But that has come under question as "service" has been replaced by "profit" in this age of materialism. With the public already much aware of the biases in media, implication on political issues may be minimal as compared to other information that actually endangers the public, including intelligence reports, war economy prospects, among others. Reference: Arthur, Lisa and Nathalie McNeal. "Roommates Needed." Miami Herald, October 12, 2006 Final Edition. Associated Press (AP). "Bush Praises UN Resolution on North Korea." On CNN. October 14 2006 8:55 pm edition. Associated press (AP). "Deal made on passenger data." On CNN, Oct. 6, 2006. Beck, Paul Allen and Dye, Thomas. "Sources of Public Opinion on Taxes: the Florida Case." The Journal of Politics > Vol. 44, No. 1 (Feb., 1982), pp. 172-182 Boykoff, Jules 1. "Framing Dissent: Mass-Media Coverage of the Global Justice Movement." New Political Science, Volume 28, Number 2, June 2006, pp. 201-228(28) Brunnstrum, David (Reuters). "U.S., Europe reach draft deal on air data: EU Official." Washington Post, October 6, 2006. Conan, Neal. "The Price of Security." NPR. September 11, 2006. Davis, Philip. "Report: Florida Faces Fight to Attract Retirees." Morning Edition, march 13, 2003. Demick, Barbara. "'Nut with a Nuke' A Shrewd Operator." Miami Herald (The FL). Final ed, Page 1A (Front). Oct. 12, 2006. Gerena-Morales, Rafael. "Florida Snowbirds Question Fairness of Property Tax." The Wall Street Journal (Online) Real Estate Journal.com. Accessed Oct 12, 2006 from http://www.realestatejournal.com/buysell/taxesandinsurance/20060523-morales.html Groseclose, Tim and Jeffrey Milyo. "Media Bias is Real." UCLA News/Quarterly Journal of Economics. December 14, 2005. Guan, Han and Audra Ang of Associated Press. "China Boosts N. Korea border inspections." Miami Herald, Oct. 16, 2006. Linzer, Dafna. "U.S. Urges Punishment for Iran Nuclear Work." Washington Post. May 3, 2005. Page A18. Media Research Center (MRC). "Media Bias Basics." Accessed Oct 15 2006 From https://secure.mediaresearch.org/news/MediaBiasBasics.html Nakamura, Kiyoshi and Alain Bordeau de Fontenay. "A Critical Analysis of Public Service broadcasting in a Digital Environment - its Changing Role in Japan from the International Comparative Viewpoint." Columbia Business School. August 30, 2006. Newton, K. "Media Bias" from Liberal Neutrality. R. Goodin and A. Reeve (eds). Routledge. Pp 130-55. Pew Research Center, The (PRC). PBS. From http://www.pbs.org/ accessed October 15, 2006. Appendix: Frequency of Story Coverage on Related Political Events Media Entity International News National News Local news Miami Herald 5 4 6 NPR 6 3 2 Channel 6 (pls. supply, no access to station) Washington Post 8 4 2 CNN 7 5 1 Others (Wall Street Journal, etc.) 8 7 4 Survey Results regarding Bias of Media Source: Media Research Center Other Study Indications of Media Bias: Source: Pew research Center, 2006 Read More