What are the political leanings of the major networks?

[Skaut_Ech]

Fair and balanced, blah, blah, blah. It's pretty apparent to me that certain networks have a major bias towards one political party or the other. Like, I've noticed the Fox is hardcore republican, to the point of some curious bashing of democrats, while CNN appears, to me, to lean democratic. I get a LOT of my news from Morning Joe on MSNBC. So far, that show has struck me as being the most fair minded. I don't know about the entire network, though.

So, you politicos out there, what is your understanding of the political leanings of the major networks? (I'm talking cable, cnn, msnbc, etc)

[LG33]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

They all lean right - it's a question of sponsors and how news becomes news. In terms of political parties, I guess it could go either way.

[Kegboy]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

I won't get into my opinions, to each his own. However, I do want to point out a study done by George Mason University comparing the broadcast networks' nightly news to the Fox News counterpart.

http://www.cmpa.com/releases/07_12_21_Election_Study.pdf

Who’s Fair and Balanced?: Fox News Channel’s coverage was more balanced toward both parties
than the broadcast networks were. On FOX, evaluations of all Democratic candidates combined were
split almost evenly – 51% positive vs. 49% negative, as were all evaluations of GOP candidates – 49%
positive vs. 51% negative, producing a perfectly balanced 50-50 split for all candidates of both parties.

On the three broadcast networks, opinion on Democratic candidates split 47% positive vs. 53%
negative, while evaluations of Republicans were more negative – 40% positive vs. 60% negative. For
both parties combined, network evaluations were almost 3 to 2 negative in tone, i.e. 41% positive vs.

59% negative.

Sorry it doesn't evaluate CNN and MSNBC, but I had to stick up for my boy Brit, who not only anchor's the program but is the Washington managing editor for Fox News.

[Sollozzo]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

As a conservative, I prefer Fox News. I won't deny that there is an overall conservative tone to it, but I feel that Fox gives liberals more air time than the other networks do conservatives.

[BlueNGold]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

There is no fair and balanced network. CNN and other cable news leans to the left. Fox leans to the right. Similarly, most talk radio is right and some far right.

BTW, Fox seems like it's further to the right because they are the first one to lean to the right...and the only one currently leaning to the right.

Just as the coastal states and larger cities have a higher concentration of democrats, they are over-represented in the media, hollywood and academia...perhaps because of choice...or maybe because of history and geography. In any event, that has led to the networks and most cable stations leaning left.

[travmil]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

I always chuckle a bit when I hear the "fair and balanced" line in connection with Fox News. Fox News is at least as far right as CNN and the rest are left. I also watch Morning Joe, which is pretty good. The rest of MSNBC though is VERY far left, and Olbermann's sole purpose in life seems to be to annoy Bill O'Reilly.

[JayRedd]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

Rupert Murdoch is Marxist liberatarian, I believe.

[Skaut_Ech]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

[rexnom]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

Fair and balanced, blah, blah, blah. It's pretty apparent to me that certain networks have a major bias towards one political party or the other. Like, I've noticed the Fox is hardcore republican, to the point of some curious bashing of democrats, while CNN appears, to me, to lean democratic. I get a LOT of my news from Morning Joe on MSNBC. So far, that show has struck me as being the most fair minded. I don't know about the entire network, though.

So, you politicos out there, what is your understanding of the political leanings of the major networks? (I'm talking cable, cnn, msnbc, etc)

I like Joe Scarborough but you do realize that he was a Republican rep and a Bush supporter during the two elections (and during 2000 he was a rep from Florida).

[Unclebuck]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

It depends when you watch the networks and which show you watch. I've never watched Morning Joe. In fact I never watch any of the news networks prior to around 6:00 at night. So I have no idea what goes on from about midnight until around 6:00 PM.

I usually call CNN the Clinton News Network. And from what I have seen MSNBC should be called "yes we want Obama to Win"

The best "news hour" on TV is from 6:00 - 7:00 on Fox with Brit Hume - very fair and balanced if you ask me.

I also enjoy the O'Reilly Factor (yes I know that isn't the real name of the show) - and depending on who the guests are, I enjoy Hannity & Colmes.


Yes I suppose Fox news is conservative - compared to the other outlets.


But I have to laugh when people act like Fox news some wild right wing cabal. Considering everything else is liberal, Fox just tries to be a little balance to the airwaves.

I saw a survey last week - it was asking media members if they were conservsative, moderate or liberal.

I forget the exact figures.

But it was somehting like 4% conservative.
40% liberal and the rest moderate.

The biggest media bias is not in what the media says or even how the cover certain news stories, no it is in what they decide is news or not news

[Since86]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

I think Fox calls it's self 'fair and balanced' because they try to offset their shows.

Hannity and Colmes is a show hosted by a repub and a democrat.

Bill O'Reilly does lean very hard right, but he's pretty up front about it. I think a lot of the venom pointed towards Fox is because of him, and him alone.

To suggest that all media leans right, like LG33 did, is just plain insane. CNN, or the Clinton News Network, as it's been referred to in the years past, didn't get it's name for nothing.

Then you have Keith Olberman, who has nothing to do with sports, but is put on a football show, when he's just as polarizing as Bill O'Reilly.

The overall media leans left, and it's not even close. I don't complain about it, because it's not going to change. I just get a kick out of people getting all pissed off at Fox because they buck the trend.

EDIT: I completely agree with your last statement, UB.

[Skaut_Ech]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

I like Joe Scarborough but you do realize that he was a Republican rep and a Bush supporter during the two elections (and during 2000 he was a rep from Florida).

Yeah. That's what I find so refreshing about him. I think he's really bringing some thoughtful, non-biased opinions to the table. I gotta admit, I'm pretty impressed with him.

On top of it, Pat Buchanan has been wonderful on there. No bombast, no stridency, just nice analysis of what's going on. I always hated the guy, but I have really re-thunk my opinion of him.

I really enjoy both of those guys.

I think they present a Republican face that exemplifies what can be good about conservative journalism/opinions. Conversely, I think Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly show why people gripe about conservative journalists, being more concerned with trying to provoke, rather than illuminate.

[Unclebuck]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

Personally, I don't consider Bill O'Reilly a conservative. He is an interesting combination of a populist, liberatarian with some conservatism thrown in. Hannity is a conservative. I am conservative and I disagree with O'Reilly quite a bit

I used to watch Joe Scarborough when he was on in the evening, but I don't have time in the AM to watch him. I used to like Joe though.

Skaut - see I don't consider O'Reilly or Hannity journalists. The comment on the news. Yes they are there to provoke - that is what they are getting paid to do. But at least they are honest about it - they don't claim to be unbiased, the problem is so many other biased media people claim they are unbiased

[RWB]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

Then you have Keith Olberman, who has nothing to do with sports, but is put on a football show, when he's just as polarizing as Bill O'Reilly.

Olberman made a name for himself as one of ESPN's talking heads before going to MSNBC.

I do think CNN does tries to balance some of their views by having Glen Beck on CNN Headline News.

[Since86]

Re: What are the political leanings of the major networks?

Olberman made a name for himself as one of ESPN's talking heads before going to MSNBC.

I do think CNN does tries to balance some of their views by having Glen Beck on CNN Headline News.

When he was on the Dan Patrick show, he wasn't doing much. I didn't hear him the first time around, but hiss sport opinions last year were few and far between. When he actually did contribute they weren't insightful at all, it was like they plunked some guy off the street and threw him on the air.

When he rambles on and on during the halftime shows about political nonsense with spit flying everywhere because he's so worked up, it turns people off. He knows just as much about sports as Rush and Dennis Miller. Stop trying to have a circus, and just focus on the product.