orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) (02/21/85)
> Scott Plunkett: > Quite so. We note the concern of liberals suddenly alarmed at prominent > conservatives buying up newspapers. We also note they are not so alarmed > at the entrenched liberalism throughout medialand that has been largely > responsible for the cynical use of the media which the above writer seems > so disgusted about. I have already pointed out that the "liberal media" is a myth, but I guess the facts don't seem to dissuade people. Here are some facts on the "liberal media": 1)80% of newspapers in the last election endorsed Ronald Reagan the usual figure is that 70% of newspapers regularly endorse Republicans 2)The country's newspapers with the largest circulation are: 1)USA Today- mindlessly conservative 2)The Wall Street Journal- mindfully conservative 3)New York Daily News- mildly liberal The largest newsweeklies are TIME, Newsweek, and US News and World Report. Time was a backer of conservative causes quite blatantly when Henry Luce owned and ran it. The present editor, Grunewald, at least as portrayed by David Halberstam in "The Powers that Be", was often *more* conservative than the already staunchly conservative Luce. US News and World Report is blatantly conservative and oriented towards the corporate executive perspective. Newsweek is probably generally liberal. I haven't read it in a while so it is hard to judge Newsweek's present perspective. I know that they have gotten several conservative columnists in the last few years. TV news is harder to judge: local news is generally oriented toward vapid sensationalism. The national networks are generally not very informative and easily manipulated by "photo opportunities" created by the White House and administration in power. (which is one of the great powers and advantages incumbent in the presidency) Since TV stations do not make political endorsements explicitly it is harder to provide a litmus test such as that for newspapers. In general, since TV news tends not to inform much at all, it favors the status quo. (Given no information on an issue one is most likely to be apathetic about it, and not even consider it an issue) I repeat again, there is no domination of "liberal media" in this country. tim sevener whuxl!orb