Customer Reviews

Press Bias and Politics: How the Media Frame Controversial Issues (Praeger Studies in Political Communication)

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The argument over media bias has generated a lot more heat than light. This book is an exception! Kuypers has come up with a very interesting way of approaching the bias question: compare the content of political speeches with the content of the reporting about those speeches. Substantial differences in content point toward distortions introduced by the news process.

This is an innovation in media studies--a sensible innovation.

I wanted to share with you how this book charts the effects the printed press--and by extension, broadcast media--have upon the messages of political and social leaders when they discuss controversial issues. Through examination of almost 700 press reports on race and homosexuality that were published in 116 different newspapers, this book meticulously documents a liberal political bias in mainstream news. This bias hurts the democratic process in general by ignoring non-mainstream left positions and vilifying many moderate and the vast majority of right-leaning positions. Thus, only a narrow brand of liberal thought is supported by the press; all other positions are denigrated or ignored. By comparatively analyzing press reports and the events that occassioned the coverage, this book paints a detailed picture of the politics of the American press; advances four distinct reportorial practices through which the press injects bias into its reporting; and argues forcefully that the mainstream press in America is an anti-democratic institution. The mainstream press in America operate within a narrow range of liberal beliefs. Those with more conservative views will certainly feel the brunt of the press's bias. However, those who embrace moderate political beliefs will be hurt when they step to the right of the press position. The press will actively help certain politicians and social leaders on the left who espouse the same view of the country that the press has adopted. However, those who step beyond this narrow brand of liberal reporting, moving even further to the left, will be ignored or denigrated. In this manner, then, the American press acts to shut out the full range of political voices in the country.

I wanted to share with you how this book charts the effects the printed press--and by extension, broadcast media--have upon the messages of political and social leaders when they discuss controversial issues. Through examination of almost 700 press reports on race and homosexuality that were published in 116 different newspapers, this book meticulously documents a liberal political bias in mainstream news. This bias hurts the democratic process in general by ignoring non-mainstream left positions and vilifying many moderate and the vast majority of right-leaning positions. Thus, only a narrow brand of liberal thought is supported by the press; all other positions are denigrated or ignored. By comparatively analyzing press reports and the events that occassioned the coverage, this book paints a detailed picture of the politics of the American press; advances four distinct reportorial practices through which the press injects bias into its reporting; and argues forcefully that the mainstream press in America is an anti-democratic institution. The mainstream press in America operate within a narrow range of liberal beliefs. Those with more conservative views will certainly feel the brunt of the press's bias. However, those who embrace moderate political beliefs will be hurt when they step to the right of the press position. The press will actively help certain politicians and social leaders on the left who espouse the same view of the country that the press has adopted. However, those who step beyond this narrow brand of liberal reporting, moving even further to the left, will be ignored or denigrated. In this manner, then, the American press acts to shut out the full range of political voices in the country.