AIBU think that the media...

[Kwoggers]

AIBU thinking that no media source is unbiased, that it's strange to think that a media source should be unbiased and that the holy grail of journalism is nothing more that data-driven reporting.

I think that with media sources being transparent and open about their opinions and objectives, we can evaluate sources and come to our own conclusions. It seems that centre-right media don't pretend to be unbiased or lacking in opinion whereas the disingenuous Guardian, Indy, NYT or others pretend to be unbiased yet clearly have their own agendas too.

The BBC do of course have guidelines to follow and we can assume that they follow them as at various points, all parties complain that they've leftie-luvvies or "failing in their duty to report on the opposition's policies".

It was this last quote that led me to think that media shouldn't be unbiased. It doesn't have a duty to be anything other than truthful, non-libellous and obey other relevant laws. Truth is not an absolute and in the coming GE elections, different press are noticeably biased in different directions. AIBU thinking that this is okay?

When it comes to reporting it's near impossible to be truly objective. That said when watching programmes like question time I do think there should be more balance and less ukip. The media made ukip and despite near political obliteration in local elections they're still given a louder voice than parties with actual representatives like the greens. I think the media subjectivity has too much power over our country and that opinions very quickly get presented as facts which in turn makes them "facts" in the minds of the public. It's in a highly responsible position and I think it should try to be as objective as possible within the confines of human ability to be so.

The media is sometimes called 'the Fouth Estate' - equation what you are talking about here. It exerts such a level of power over government and people it can be termed a form of government in itself. No media is free of bias. Every medium has an owner and a Board to answer to, like any business. Most make it clear where their tendencies lie. It is those that do not that are the most scheming, or those that switch to the highest bidder.

Media are not there to do a public service - that's a misconception. They are a business. It is the public's business to stay aware.

*equation=exactly

Teabagtits

Perhaps you're right but surely the fact we're leaving the EU suggests that UKIP is (or was) an important party and the fact that they absorbed Labour and Tory voters meant that they were more important than their seat or council count would suggest.

I don't see why you should be as objective as possible and that isn't what I want and it seems nor do many. There may be confirmation bias in media with everything from moderately left or right publications through to frightening extremes but really, all of our mainstream press is exactly that and the reason that whilst MNers pretend to hate the Daily Mail they all immediately know everything that's printed or posted online.

I don't think objectivity should be the target.

TheClaws

I vaguely remember (but not enough to find the terms online) types of media and reasons for it, but one the one I wish I could remember the term for is when the press do simply repeat what makes them popular. The Guardian is a left leaning 'paper' and would lose its readership if it endorsed a single Tory policy.

@Teabagtits

Saw this and thought of you!

Through no fault of my own (apart from my choice of living partner :-) ) I've recently been subjected to the ITN News at 10 a few times. They appear to no longer just report the news. Everything seems to be editorialised with Tom Bradby (is that his name) giving us a, usually flippant, commentary on the piece being reported. Lord knows the BBC has its' faults but more often than not it seems to offer up an counter argument to whatever the government of the day happens to be. When Labour are in office, they moan about the BBC and then when the Convervatives take over, suddenly they get upset with the BBC not toeing the line.

@Chapwithwings

Yep, I think the fact that the BBC usually manage to annoy whichever party is in power suggests they're doing their job properly. It truly is a great institution.