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Is mainstream media (MSM) biased? Yes indeed.
How do we know this? We know this by using many methods. One is by carefully studying the "language" used by MSM.
How do we know this? We know this by using many methods. One is by carefully studying the "language" used by MSM.
In India, if Muslims kill Hindus, for whatever reason, the reportage of their religion is very often suppressed by MSM. See, for example, bit.ly/2W3y3MK
But if Hindus kills Muslims, for whatever reason, they are labelled as "lynch mobs." All violence is bad no matter who does it and it should be condemned. By reporting it one way for one situation and another way for the reverse situation, MSM reveals its prejudice.
In the US, if a white extremist goes on a shooting spree, he is labelled as "deranged" or "disturbed" and if the perpetrator of that horrid crime is a muslim, he becomes a "terrorist."
So, language is one way to know if there is a prejudice in MSM. Another way, which I really like, is to keenly observe if the reporter even talks about the possibility of being wrong in his or her story.
Does he or she even contemplate the possibility being wrong about a view he or she is expressing. I am not referring to bare reportage where you have to report facts and not opinions. I am referring to opinion columns or opinions camouflaged as news reportage.
Everyone is entitled to their views but the primary duty of MSM is to give its consumers a balanced viewpoint. How should people who consume MSM, deal with the prejudice in the reportage?
By asking the very questions that the reporter should have asked. Is there an alternate view? What are the arguments against my view? Is my view a balanced view? Any time I read something where these questions aren't even asked, I regard that piece as prejudiced.
Incidentally, not all prejudiced people are prejudiced all of the time. A reporter may display extreme, prejudiced views in one story and may display a balanced view in a different story.
If consumers of MSM do not make that distinction, they display their own prejudice.
If consumers of MSM do not make that distinction, they display their own prejudice.
I wrote this thread at the request of my sister in law who keenly collects evidence on MSM prejudice on Hindus. I agree with her on the prejudice.
She dared me that if I tweet about the horrid incident bit.ly/2W3y3MK mentioned in the 2nd tweet in this thread, she will turn vegetarian for a year. I hope she will keep her side of the promise now!
