Kernel Sanders

It's easy to sit around and point fingers arguing "NYT is more biased" "Nuh-uh, fox is more biased," but there is very little discussion on what constitutes a good source. So what do you guys take as the most neutral news sources.

In my book I'd put Reuters at the top followed closely by the BBC. Occasionally you'll see some lefty slant in the both of them, but it isn't as constant as the rest and seems to be genuine author's slant rather than an agenda on the part of the agencies.

sazerac

There was a UCLA study that said:

"NewsHour With Jim Lehrer," ABC's "Good Morning America," CNN's "NewsNight With Aaron Brown," Fox News' "Special Report With Brit Hume" and the Drudge Report — were in a statistical dead heat in the race for the most centrist news outlet. Of the print media, USA Today was the most centrist.

Media Bias Is Real, Finds UCLA Political Scientist / UCLA Newsroom


Reuters is clearly left wing. BBC admits it is left wing.

Lightdemon

I find South Park to be the only neutral source of news. No other program has equally bashed all sides of the political spectrum.

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shuamort

I actually will cite the Christian Science Monitor as the most credible and centrist news source (except for religious matters).

DAR

I prefer The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer for its balance, integrity, and depth of coverage. I have a pretty high margin of respect for other PBS news programs, too, such as Nightly Business Report and Washington Week In Review. I also like the BBC; I learned a great respect for them while I was working in England ten years ago.

Another reason that I like PBS is because I really, really don't like being sold to, nonstop, in the commercial media sources... every three to five minutes, its ads for some crappy fast food, WalMart, SUV's, can't-get-a-woody pills, whatever.

Regarding bias in the media in general: there is one overwhelming bias in commercial media, and that bias is toward ratings. Ratings drive the value of advertising time, and advertisers pay the bills at the commercial news sources. To achieve ratings, just about any political bias can be found down at Big News Incorporated, as well as undue sensationalism and unwarranted skepticism, and plunging necklines, and short skirts, and rafts of really pretty, plastic-y looking people.

Regards,
DAR

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RightinNYC

I was coming here to post this.

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BmanMcfly

At this point there isn't really ANY 'unbiased' news outlet. The mainstream media, radio, tv, and internet is owned by about 'the big' 6 companies, they combined control roughly 90% of any media. Since these 'big 6' companies also have deep investment ties with countless other companies, there is a 'built in' bias in these news sources (whether left, right, or centrist (Btw, what are these things meant to mean?? I mean, lets say the left view is 'taxes should be raised by 80%', where a right view would be 'taxes should be raised by 60%', does that mean that a centrist view would have to be 'taxes should be raised by 70%'??))... what is left??

You could look to the 'alternative' media... but even there you're going to find, typically, socialist, anti-capitalist, or simply misinformation/simplification (regardles of intent) bias.

So, the only choice is to learn how to read through the 'bias', and when in doubt do some digging for yourself and come to your own conclusions.

shiznit770

If you ask me the only solution is to always look at the counter argument of a point of view. If you find a source that's really interesting and you think is relevant, seek out any opposition to it or find its roots. If you can't find either then chances are it has real worth.

The bottom line is don't let other people make your arguments for you, look at both sides then decide for yourself. Since the news is generally put out to drive ratings and shock readers, there will always be an opposite to an article.

DAR

For those of us who apply this strategy, it's a no-brainer. Sadly, critical and individualist thinking skills are all too uncommon these days. It seems to me that a lot of folks seek out "news" sources that validate their ideology.

Regards,
DAR

BmanMcfly

I know, and then the other problem of; if it didn't show up on the news it never happened. For someone with my views especially, since some of the most imporatant issues, when they ARE mentioned in Newspapers, often in the form of a 1-3 paragraph article hiddien in the middle of the papaer where very few will read it. (This also happense to be the sourcing of 'Project censored' (Don't try calling this conspiracy site as the policy is to find newspaper articles that deserve more attention than the small articles in which the idea is presented)

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