Saturday, December 30, 2006

CNN Media Bias?

Everyone should cut and paste the link below, go to the page and look at the second picture in the first row. The one which shows the Illegal immigrants protesting. Now read the caption which appears when you move the cursor over the picture. Go now and then come back here.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2006/yir/your.picks/

There is a clear bias among those within the left-wing media which not only opposes any substantive immigration reform, but also heavily favors amnesty. Everyone from AP down refuses to even call Illegal immigrants, "illegal" They're just called "immigrants" in just about every form of media from the time stories originate on the wire services until the story appears in the next day's newspaper.

Now I am not coming from a hardline perspective on illegal immigration. I believe that all illegals currently in this country should be given amnesty, but that it should be the last time, and that the amnesty should be given in conjunction with a serious increase in border security. I do believe that CNN is being overly sympathetic to Illegals in this example, and I base that on the words which they chose to use in conveying their simple message.

Then again I could be over reacting, because I'm bored. Let me know what you think.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Of course you are correct about this, Dan. The reason why should be obvious. It is all about money. According to the Census Bureau, Hispanic Americans represent 14.4% of the U.S. population. African Americans are only about 10%. Can you conceive of the media using any expression or chracterization that might even remotely offend African-Americans? That 14.4% has huge and increasing purchasing power. They are a major part of the TV ratings calculations. If an expression or characterization offends an important segment of viewers or readers, you can bet that it isn't going to be used, especially by the more liberal outlets like CNN. They don't like the expression "Illegal" aliens or immigrants. Whether or not it is the correct characterization--and, of course, it is--you aren't going to hear it.

Falling Panda said...

You're right, but they don't necessarily have to offend with appropriate language. Just say. "Those in favor of amnesty for undocumented workers marched in record numbers last spring."

It doesn't have to be offensive, but it should be accurate without showing obvious favor towards the cause of the illegals.

Anonymous said...

The media does the same thing with photos and there is also an overabundance of misleading headlines in some of the media. (AOL is real good at using this trick which gives the wrong impression about the content of the article to those who just scan the headlines for news.)

Did you ever notice how the left tends to use very unflattering photos of conservatives but they never use the pre-Botox (or is it pre-face lift) photos of Hillary if they can possibly help it?