The Media. Can we trust them? Are they fair?

[Daniel Meyer]

Interesting.  That means that the media gives its audience what they want to hear,  because of $$$$

Exactly this. The media is like every other business...they make money or they go down. Most media companies are public, which means they make LOTS of money and pay their shareholders big-time, or they (the board/management) gets replaced.

They cater to the audiences that will make them the most money...modifying the content to attract the most audience...and in today's data and tracking driven world...they know what's working in REAL TIME, and adjust accordingly.

Intense bias and stupid stories gets audience...LOTS of audience...not only from the folks that ARE that biased, but from moderates and other directional biased types that pass the (click/article/show/website/etc) around and argue about it.

[Serk]

Click here to read 10 ways the media is horribly biased!!!

Number 9 will have you hopping mad!!!

[Daniel Meyer]

Click here to read 10 ways the media is horribly biased!!!

Number 9 will have you hopping mad!!!

*snort* 

[Willow]

Exactly this. The media is like every other business...they make money or they go down. Most media companies are public, which means they make LOTS of money and pay their shareholders big-time, or they (the board/management) gets replaced.

They cater to the audiences that will make them the most money...modifying the content to attract the most audience...and in today's data and tracking driven world...they know what's working in REAL TIME, and adjust accordingly.

Intense bias and stupid stories gets audience...LOTS of audience...not only from the folks that ARE that biased, but from moderates and other directional biased types that pass the (click/article/show/website/etc) around and argue about it.

Well put, Daniel.  Most of us tend to forget that the sources from which we get our "news" are businesses.  Businesses exist to make money.

As to those who say the bias is more now than it used to be, that may or may not be true.  It does seem to be more out in the open.  Perhaps the bias is more noticeable when it differs from our own view.    

[scooperhsd]

Basic "news , weather and sports" - most locals are doing pretty good.

HOWEVER - I think what most of you are talking about is "POLITICAL" coverage - and I'd agree - It is overt  and out there, and not going away anytime soon. It's also the crap I don't care for, no matter which side the source is biased for. Most of this is done by the national news networks and the cable news networks. And yes - a good part of what drives this is business decisions.