There are claims that both the right and left wing control mainstream media. Is there a media bias? And if it so, which wing is clipped?
Okay so I was reading one of those time wasting things online… blog that’s it. Anyway the one I was reading was a tirade from some way out lefty going off on how the mainstream media is SO right wing. I guess when you are that far left everything looks right. Well wrong but you know to them but right side side of the… you know what I’m talking about.
It was acctually kind of funny to me because normally it’s my right wing friends that are always crying about the left sides media dominance. But you can find people at every extreme of the political spectrum claiming that the media is working against them. Especially if media is trying to maintain any credibility and show both sides of an issue. Like that ever happends.
So the whole thing makes me wonder is there really a media bias and if so which wing is clipped?
Now we could go through hundreds or even thousands of individual stories from major new publications, sift through them substantiate their claims and try to unbiasedly rank them and their authors on some kind of elaborate scale to determine what bias there is if any, but that would take more than the five minutes which at this point I am willing to invest.
So instead let’s just cut to the chase and follow the money. It’s really all about economics. First of all, supply does not create demand. Just because I have a lot of something doesn’t mean anybody wants it. And it cirtainly doesn’t mean they are willing to pay for it. Second in a free market, generally speaking, if enough people demand something supply will be soon to follow. That is provided the suppliers have access to capital and the people are free to purchase what they want. And third, Markets for information and media, just like ones for other goods and services, move in the direction of equilibrium.
But this is kind of a hot topic, so before we dive in take a moment. Try to leave your bias behind you, not likely, but try anyway and be prepaired for something you don’t want to hear. Here it comes.
Point one. Rush Limbaugh. I’m so sorry. According to the New York Times his salary is larger than the annual salaries of the four best paid news anchors on network… combined. A paycheck fatter than he is. It doesn’t matter if you love him, hate him or like me ignore him. It doesn’t even matter if he’s right or wrong. The thing that matters is demand. That kind of salary imbalance screams that people believe the major news networks need to be balanced out by with more right wing… well, right of center content. It’s pretty solid economics. And because he has been around for over two decades it definitely isn’t a flash in the pan or some short term knee jerk reaction.
If we assume that the media market is in equilibrium. Then there is clearly an audience out there that wants a lot of slightly liberal on one side balancing out by an extremely conservative pundit on the other. [Laughing] Pundit. It’s like a teeter totter in real life, with Kaite Couric, Anderson Cooper and Brian Williams on one end and Rush on the other. And I think it would balance out. Sorry, I couldn’t resist that.
Point two. Fox News. Do you remember that high school person who always had to remind you how open minded they are? It’s one of the surest indications that they aren’t. Fox News claims to be fair and balanced. Right. Okay, maybe if you look at the market as a whole their right wing commentary serves to balance out other far more numerous left leaning cable news channels. Again it’s a case of equilibrium in the media market not equilibrium within Fox itself. ‘Cause at the end of the day, nobody is fair and balanced except the money.
Most politically charged talk show hosts are exactly the same. Their job is essentially to stir the pot and get people mad at each other. Being fair and logically presenting an issue from both sides never has been and never will be part of the show. Why? Probably because you have an abundance of choices for liberally slanted news and far fewer conservatively bias options.
Let’s take a look at Glen Beck and Keith Olbermann, two fip sides of the same coin, except that one of them has way better ratings and despite massive protests that lead to a loss of commercial sponsors is still on the air.
Point three. If all of this seems unbelievable to you, you need to do your own survey. Go to the local college and start asking journalism students questions like “Which party do you belong to?” and “How do you feel about abortion, big government, military vs social spending?” You know, the easy questions. I really don’t think you are going to find too many hard-charging, card carrying conservatives in the journalism program. And these are the people who will be researching the facts, writing the stories, anchoring the nightly news and putting their own personal and political spin on it.
So there you have it. The only way you can really know if there is a media bias is to ask the one thing that isn’t bias itself, the market. You know, financial or educational. Follow the money.
I mean if no one were listening to Rush Limbaugh or Fox News, they would have been relegated to public access or some back water corner of the interenet reserved for crazy people. But love them, hate them or ignore them, they get an astounding amount of money and viewers and are likely popular simply because there is a bit of a left leaning mainstream media bias.
Back water corner of the interenet reserved for crazy people? You mean our show don’t you?
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71 Comments
Drorharush [22]
what dose that say about YOU?kilvarough
It's too bad that moderates by definition don't get too crazy over politics, necessitating a moderate media source. I would love someday to hear someone frantically scream "I WANT A CENTRIST ****ING ECONOMIC SYSTEM WITH A BALANCE OF FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES REGULATING DEMAND AND SERVICE WITH GOVERNMENT MANDATED PROVISIONS ... moreThe Brothers Winn
@ Lodinkinni - Unfortunately in your haste to correct something we weren't trying to say, you have inadvertently helped prove our point. Let's use your numbers. If 3/8th of the nation is "right-wing" then the remaining 5/8ths is liberal or centered (independent). That would mean if media were unbiased you would expect to see 3/8 of the channels and commentators would skew right. According to your post all the right wingers have is Fox and Rush ... Clearly this is under representation. If there are, for example, over 15 major cable and broadcast news channels, then by ... lots moremarc
Yay! Crazy People!Lodinkinni [22]
Good show, in some ways. Bad show in others. You're right that supply and demand makes things as they are, but you're wrong in assuming that there's a vast love of right wing politics. While indeed, the one major right-wing pundit is paid a good deal more than any of the left-wing pundits, you're forgetting that there -are- many more left-wing pundits than right wing pundits to begin with. This is because the market for the left wing, as well as for centralists, is a fiercer battle than the right wing, where a single station runs what is comprable to a monopoly. ... lots moreGameDroid98
WOW, you guys did a GREAT job on the site, and you guys took my suggestion of getting a twitter account! (Admittedly, I did get the idea from another user. But I don't know his name.)GameDroid98
Cool new feature you guys! That's going to increase the viewings at least a little.Curtis [22]
Hey Brothers Winn. You guys are definitely good at keeping us in suspense. Happy constructing, or whatever you want to call it. I'll be on the lookout for it.WhyRay
great vid, i totally agreewanttoknow
To Brothers Winn I am new to the site. Do you post citations from your research somewhere? I saw some information under the show for Autism.GameDroid98
Yeah, there is a large demand for WYOTK, but the new supply is running dry. Or is it that you guys don't have access to capital? Any who could you at least give us a hint about when the next show is... Please? Equals DFanOfAr
There also seems to be a large demand for WYOTK...and yet here we are, still waiting for the next show. I don't mean to be impatient, but any word, guys, on when we can expect the next one?nick
There seems to be a large demand for conservative leaning news programs, therefore making them more profitable than liberal leaning news programs (as explained in the show). My question is why do the liberal leaning news programs continue to do this if they are not as profitable as conservative leaning ... moresteph {207}
I totally agree with you 100%. I listen to both Rush and watch Fox news on a daily bases. I love Glenn Beck and Hannity and all the rightys. I simply love them so much because I can't stand MSNBC and ABC and their left wing bias. expecially NBC. and ... moreSamuel
There haven't been any shows in awhile. why?znalost
Back...finally. My bias agrees with you.busboy68
this is great but I need MORE!!!!!!!!!!krisbowls
Woot, the Bros. Winn are back, score! Sorry I'm kinda late on that. Anywhoo, tearanical, wuh?FatAnorexic
cool vid, and interesting point. Any hint as to when the next vid is going to be out? Or was this the end? anyways happy new year everyone-second to post that, and it's the 11th! Is it just me or is everyone not in the spirit these days? Probably just ... moregus8133
New member!!! Great video.nick
Just so anyone who cares knows Rush lost a ton (not literally) of weight around 90 pounds.Ingrid [22]
HAPPY NEWYEAR EVERYBODY!!! ... (Kinda surprised that nobody beat me to it, since it's january 6th allready)OblivionWielder
OMG!!! you are back!! thank you thank you thank you!! Happy Holidays! and Happy New Year! K i should get a credit card to buy the dvd =D BTW have you though of doing a twitter account and tweet random facts each day? it might be good publicity + we keep getting updates ... moreaurelius [22]
Glad you guys are back!Meandering {207}
Great to have you back. I was wanting a little more time spent on the fact that the mainstream media (defined as non-cable news organizations, NBC, ABC and CBS) is biased or unbiased. What I get is a cold matter-of-fact, that it is. Another interesting fact about the presentation was the time spent on the news programing by right-wing shows and networks (Rush, FoxNews and Glenn Beck) and hardly any was spent on left-leaning shows, organizations and networks (CNN, MSNBC, The Huffington Post). What I do is not listen to any of them and make my own ... lots moreSnowmanincave [22]
According to the political compass, a little online doodad that I have no faith in (let's face it, I know nothing), I am an extremely far left, libertarian weirdo. Being so far removed from what that same website claims is mainstream, I agree with what you guys put out here. ... moreIngrid [22]
@ Pheonix_blu{207} ... I'm from the Netherlands. If you ever watched "Cruisin' California" :P That one was for me. (and is still very proud and honored :D )littleman77
Thank God I don't have cable.socalcutie82 [22]
Bummed I didn't realize this was new until now, but LOVED it!! Thanks for posting this and for not being afraid to "follow the money." I agree that FoxNews isn't always right, but they at least seem to be more balanced than the regular news stations who are OBVIOUSLY leaning ... morepkw
I personally like Fox because they have discussions. Geraldo is even growning on me. (That's what's on during weekends after kids go to bed). I didn't like other new channels, 'cause I found them depressing, so I'd just avoid the news. But Fox, I find thought provoking even when I disagree. I like that Bill asks hard questions of both sides. As for your frequent references to economics, WAHOO!!! I took only 2 classes in college, thinking that's not where I'm going, but now I reflect on those concepts and see them playing out in ... lots moreNiya
Glad I don't care about mediaPheonix_blu{207}
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! Just out of curiosity, where are you from Ingrid?Samuel
Is it just me or are there more [22]ers than before................ some time ago. You pick a time I'm to lazy.Samuel
I ment to say it IS about 10:00Samuel
GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE(here in New York it about 10:00 )Samuel
Well it's good to know you're out there GameDroid98.GameDroid98
I'm out here!Samuel
IS ANYONE OUT THERE????????Samuel
when i was posting comments to get to thirty i got a page that said "Slow down. You are posting comments to fast." thats what i was talking about a minute ago.Samuel
Does anyone want me to stop posting comments besides the wordpress site thingy?Samuel
Someone talk to me please!?!Samuel
comments=DSamuel
30Samuel
till there'sSamuel
commentSamuel
going toSamuel
I amSamuel
Does anyone want to talk to me ?Ingrid [22]
@carolyn: Well, since you're talking about FOX news and other channels and stuff, I wouldn't be able to talk about that, or form an opinion, because I'm not from America and don't know or watch them...Samuel
I think I'll just post on and off all day just saying random things to pass the time.Samuel
I live in New York so the clock in the comments, to me at least, lies. Here it is 12:03Samuel
OK I'm bored...........................anyone have something for me to do while i wait for Christmas, and more importantly new WYOTK shows?Samuel
HEY administrator WordPress 2.9 is available. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL GOOD WYOTK SHOWS=Dmars_fenix
hey guys! I love your show,, anyway, i was watching this current affairs show, and they were talking about the debate on energy drinks, can you guys do a show about energy, and the debate about them! thanks,Carolyn{207}
How is this episode "american" at all? I don't get your point Ingrid.Ingrid [22]
I guess this one is a little to "american" for me. Still good to have you back though ;)grimhold
First off, i agree with Farseli the theme song has grown on me also i want it for a ring tone. Second great show, glad your back and as dead on as usual. And Scott is right i think about the news shows vs opinion shows on fox. O'Reilly is pretty mid ... morethegodofsleep215
So if I "Follow the money," this show must be very close to unbiased--since it has none.ALLSurvivor
So happy you guys are back!Swip
Glad to see you guys back!Curtis [22]
I fully realize this is only my perspective, but I watch Fox News...and MSNBC...and CNN...and FBN...and CNBC...and even CSPAN, and I see more viable opinion "debate" from both sides on Fox News than any other. To minimize the opinion, I'll go with CSPAN. Thank GOD I still make time for Family Guy, South Park, Simpsons, Always Sunny in Philly, etc to keep me sane. Is Fox News perfect at what they do? Of course not. Non of them are. I just have to try to pick out the "news" on all these opinion shows ... lots moreFanOfAr
Pundit! LOL! I've *always* thought that sounded like some sort of an insult or something, despite what it really means. Also, I think it's odd that when some people "Follow the Money", and they see it tends to land on Right Wing uh... Pundits, they immediately assume that as proof that said pundits are evil psycho conspirators out to destroy the nation. But when you consider that the amount of money they get is kind of like a vote from the populace that what they have to offer is desired, it becomes a head-scratcher when you ... lots moreresistorj3
6:30 a.m. awake and now happy that I clicked your bookmark.etfjr
Does anyone else remember a day when the reporters told you the facts as opposed to what to think about the facts? BTW: Glad you guys are back!!!!!Jennifer McKenzie
I've always said both extremes are well represented. LOL!!! I guess it wouldn't be good ratings to have a rational discussion about...anything. Love this as always.alphawhiskey0811
Glad to see updates! Love your show!nick
Fox news opinion shows are mostly conservative (Geraldo At Large, being the exception) but the news part of it is "fair and balanced" this leaves me to wonder why there aren't any "news" channels, I mean ones that just have news.Pheonix_blu{207}
Yet another great show from the Bro's Winn. I've had debates with friends about media bias, Fox vs. all the other netowrks. I've always said that they're all biased I just let Fox get away with it becuase they are biased in my direction, however sometimes I wish there was ... moreScott
A word about Fox News. Their OPINION shows are conservative, no doubt. But I can't stand opinion shows liberal or conservative. They are just screaming matches. Fox NEWS is actually pretty even handed.Farseli
The theme song has grown on me now. This is great stuff to watch right before going to my biochem final! Actually, this is pretty much what I thought the situation was too! I know there is a left bias, and I also realized right away that if FOX news ... moreAbaddon
First! Also, good to see you guys back again.