Media bias in 2017

Media bias

From nattering nabobs of negativism to Fox News, MSNBC and beyond

What media do people use?

• Berkman-MIT study shows “asymmetrical polarization”

What media do people use?

• Berkman-MIT study shows “asymmetrical polarization”

• Steve Bannon, formerly of Breitbart, declares war on the press

What media do people use?

• Berkman-MIT study shows “asymmetrical polarization”

• Steve Bannon, formerly of Breitbart, declares war on the press

• Chris Cillizza compares Russia story to 9/11 conspiracy theories

The mainstream media are not equipped for a political

environment in which one side seeks to delegitimize the press

through falsehoods and threats.

A brief historyof media bias

The McCarthy era

• Coverage of McCarthy’s accusations exposed the limits of objectivity

The McCarthy era

• Coverage of McCarthy’s accusations exposed the limits of objectivity

• Murrow was accused by some of making rather than reporting the news

The McCarthy era

• Coverage of McCarthy’s accusations exposed the limits of objectivity

• Murrow was accused by some of making rather than reporting the news

• McCarthy supporters like Buckley launched their own media

The media consensus fractures

The media consensus fractures

• Press portrayed the civil-rights movement in a sympathetic light

The media consensus fractures

• Press portrayed the civil-rights movement in a sympathetic light

• Vietnam War further cast the media as a bastion of liberalism

The media consensus fractures

• Press portrayed the civil-rights movement in a sympathetic light

• Vietnam War further cast the media as a bastion of liberalism

• The media’s embraceof youth culture alienated conservatives

Nixon and the media

• Spoke up on behalf of the conservative“Silent Majority”

Nixon and the media

• Spoke up on behalf of the conservative“Silent Majority”

• VP Spiro Agnew denounced “nattering nabobs of negativism”

Nixon and the media

• Spoke up on behalf of the conservative“Silent Majority”

• VP Spiro Agnew denounced “nattering nabobs of negativism”

• Pentagon Papers and Watergate ignited an all-out war with media

Are journalists biased?

Does bias affect coverage?

• Despite scandal,Ronald Reagan was treated with deference

Does bias affect coverage?

• Despite scandal,Ronald Reagan was treated with deference

• Media tormented Bill Clinton over his personal pecadillos

Does bias affect coverage?

• Despite scandal,Ronald Reagan was treated with deference

• Media tormented Bill Clinton over his personal pecadillos

• Media’s failures inrun-up to war in Iraq are well documented

“Working the refs”

“I admit it — the liberal media were never that powerful, and the whole thing was often used as an excuse by conservatives for conservative failures.”

— William Kristol

The big picture in 2004

• Traditional media were culturally liberal but pursued the truth

The big picture in 2004

• Traditional media were culturally liberal but pursued the truth

• Conservative media were partisan and attacked mainstream

The big picture in 2004

• Traditional media were culturally liberal but pursued the truth

• Conservative media were partisan and attacked mainstream

• Talk radio was a conservative medium liberals couldn’t match

The big picture in 2017

• The Washington Post and other mainstream outlets are benefitting

The big picture in 2017

• The Washington Post and other mainstream outlets are benefitting

• President Trump blasts negative coverage as “fake news”

The big picture in 2017

• The Washington Post and other mainstream outlets are benefitting

• President Trump blasts negative coverage as “fake news”

• Hannity, Breitbartand others amplify Trump’s falsehoods