Right-Wing Press Critics Don't Understand How Journalism Works

It really is one of the great ironies surrounding conservative media criticism over the years; most of the people doing it don't understand how journalism works, in part because they've never worked as journalists, and therefore they have no respect for the profession.

Right-wing critiques of the press are usually filed by ideologues who, rather than trying to improve journalism, are trying to eradicate it, which pretty much sums up the work being done at Brent Bozell's NewsBusters.

I was reminded of that while reading this utterly predictable complaint about how the liberal media is (surprise!) going to cost John McCain the campaign. Specifically, the NewsBusters item details how when polled informally, journalists as a group often vote Democratic. And, of course (goes the Newsbusters thinking), because they vote Democratic that means journalists report Democratic, whatever that means.

Let's review some of the problems with this evergreen argument. First, lots of the newsroom surveys over the years have asked, in general, how journalists of all stripes voted on Election Day. But in terms of building a grand conspiracy theory about liberal bias regarding political coverage, do we really care how sports editors, obit writers and Metro columnists vote? Or does their liberal bias seep through into the box scores, obituaries, and their dispatches from zoning commission meetings? Meaning, probably 70 percent of what's printed in newspapers each day has nothing to do with partisan politics, so who cares how the people who produce that 70 percent vote?

Second, the simplistic conclusion that because a journalist might vote for a Democrat means that that journalist automatically, and without exception, skews his or her work in order to benefit Democrats, completely ignores the basic premise of journalism, which is called professionalism.

And third, if newsrooms tilt so tragically to the left, why don't conservatives try to get jobs in newsrooms? Why don't conservatives jump at the chance to become poorly paid reporters in a dying industry? The answer (they'd rather be partisan pundits) brings us right back to my first point. Conservative press critics don't understand how journalism works, or respect the craft, because most of them have never been journalists.

Crossposted at County Fair, a Media Matters for America blog.

Comments

[burningbushdissident]

It's true that conservatives have themselves to credit for not having a voice in many newsrooms. The left has worked very hard to get into positions not only in news but academia, charities and many other fields, while the conservatives mainly pay the taxes that support it all, serve in military and leave wealth to the foundations that fund the liberals. Guess we are pretty dumb after all...

[applescruff]

The job of a good journalist is to report the TRUTH. Did it ever occur to the Right that perhaps before they start screaming "liberal Media" they ought to wonder if what they are really discovering is that the TRUTH hurts.

[Downing]

My dad was a proud newspaperman. He said the reporters job is to get the facts. There's one page for opinion, and that's where the publisher gets to give his two cents. Newstalk radio is not news, it's just talk. Fox News is not journalism. It is to laugh. Better informed people tend to be democrats in this age.

[luckyrico1]

Thank you for stating what should be obvious, but is not.

[jbeach]

The real point that the Right Wing steps around: it's not the reporters or journalists that actually pick what goes on the air or in the papers.

It's the producers and the editors, and ultimately their bosses, the owners. Who themselves make their money from advertising - which means pleasing other business owners.

So the reporters could be Lefter than Noam Chomsky, but if they're going to get a story printed or on the air and actually make a paycheck, they'd better not make a habit of pushing any story that might piss off Gordon Gecko.

[iPolitics]

The number of mentions of McCain's fraudulent coal attack ("coal" and "bankrupt") by network, since Sunday morning:

FOX: 122
CNN: 18
MSNBC: 8

[Wolfgang]

How the media slants the news is decided by those who own the media, not by those who work in it.
Most people don't trust the news media, nor do they believe that it is impartial.

[ElBruce]

The statistical tilt in journalists voting Democrat is about the same as the greater degree to which all college graduates vote Democrat. Journalist is one of the professional-type jobs that usually require a college degree. That's the whole reason. College graduates vote Democrat. Journalists are college graduates.

[GregJL]

Theonly thing to say about your title...Duh

[ClevelandTom]

The constant whining about liberal media bias, in my opinion, is merely a political trick that the Right adopted around the mid-70's. Most every minority political movement ever known has sought to set up an external bogeyman to blame for the movement's minority status. If there isn't a real bogeyman then the movement makes one up to serve as a rallying point.

[realitychecks]

fox is a drag on journalism like palin is a drag on mccains chance on winning!

[jpnairn]

I think an argument can be made that the more attention one pays to the news the more likely one is to vote Democratic rather than Republican.

[breezyholler]

I believe in general the better informed a person is the more they are apt to vote democratic...unless of course they have some personal agenda attached to the republican ticket ...there will always be the dark side ...self-serving politics of greed...

[Girl28]

I agree. Since I have become more tuned in, I can't even listen to a Sarah Palin rally anymore. The whole time I'm saying, that's not true, ok that has been taken out of context, now that is an outright lie. I can't deal with her or John McCain.

[walk0nwalls]

Well the craft is dead because of them, only NPR really hires anymore and really, trying to eke out a living off of Public Radio?

Yeah, not happening.

[vegas9999]

Do not worry about anything. The time your guy is done with talk radio you will have it all.

[notb observer]

The Fairness Doctrine was eviscerated by Reagan in the late 80s. Along with deregulation that allowed 5 major corporations to control over 90% of the media, the loss of the Fairness Doctrine was the most important factor leading to biased partisan media outlets like Fox News.
The Reicht Wing ideologues and Dominionist Christian zealots do not want freedom of the press. They would like to control media and entertainment so that the people would fall into line more easily. The only time they seem to care about 1st Amendment rights is when they themselves feel they are being denied, as was demonstrated very clearly with Palin's recent statement.
In general, these Neo-Cons have whined about "Liberal" bias for years. Even though they get arguably more than their fair share of airtime, they will not be happy until they control the medium completely.
After voting tomorrow, we can all have a say on what media coverage is acceptable. There's nothing easier than voting with our remotes !

[latola]

Perfect point.

[vegas9999]

You guys are just unbelievable. Fox News does have some liberals. MSNBC & CNN have no conservatives but in your eyes thats just fine. By the way, the right has as much chance to get into so called journalism as they do Hollywood.

[Wigelah]

I could swear I saw Pat Buchanan on msnbc. I could be wrong, but I'm not.

[Paradym]

Joe Scarborough?

[ProgressiveVoice]

Fox News deliberately twists facts to suit ideology. MSNBC & CNN make mistakes in their coverage - anyone remember the build up to the Iraq invasion? - but I have never heard them purposely present the facts in a way that makes them false.

[LeftRight]

Fox has a token liberal or two who are never allowed to speak. Same goes for MSNBC with conservatives...... Either way, the media, on average, is not biased at all!!