News Organizations and Political Bias

[Shakey_Jake]

This may belong in another forum, so please move it accordingly, Mods.

I’ve been told several times before that US news organizations tend to have a lean to one side or another. (CNN = Left while Fox News = Right). I don’t understand, though. Can someone give me an example of CNN applying their liberal slant to a news story, or of Fox giving me a biased (Unfair and Unbalanced) report?

I look for it, but I just don’t see it. I often watch CNN Headline News…will I find this biased reporting there? Which programs should I watch on these stations (not just Fox and CNN) for examples? Where can I go for the most balanced reporting?

I just need someone to point this out for me; I feel like I’m missing something, like I’m eating up all the BS and that I should be able to see through it.

[scr4]

I picked one news story covered on both web sites. The CNN sub-heading says:

Inspectors have found traces of highly enriched uranium at an Iranian nuclear plant, but say they have not determined whether Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, a spokesman for the U.N. nuclear agency said Tuesday.

Fox News says:

U.N. inspectors have found traces of highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium at an Iranian nuclear facility, a senior diplomat said Tuesday, citing a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Do you see the subtle differences? Fox uses the loaded term “weapons-grade” while CNN emphasizes the point that the purpose of the equipment is still undetermined. This is a story I picked completely at random. I’m sure it’s easy to find a more clear example if you looked.

[Duckster]

Walter Cronkite’s take on the liberal media.

[j.c]

I do think there is bias in many news organizations.

However, I believe most of the examples one sees can be attributed to laziness and cheap sensationalism instead of political goals.