Talk:MSM

What does the discussion of Wikiepdia here have to do with anything? I'm confused. PortlyMort 16:12, 31 July 2007 (EDT)

I removed that bit. Seems to be a mark of an unhealthy obession with Wikipedia. If it's supposed to illustrate some sort of bias (which isn't readily apparent), explain it and put it on the Bias in Wikipedia page. PortlyMort 22:57, 31 July 2007 (EDT)

Do liberals really use the initials MSM to allege conservative bias in the media?

I don't see that. What I do see is most liberals denying that the MSM have any bias at all. If anyone is accusing the MSM of having a conservative bias, it is usually those who are even further to the left--like the Daily Kos.--TerryH^Talk 21:18, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

Yes, they do. All sides of the political spectrum tend to feel that their views are not properly represented in the 'mainstream media', and given the fact that Fox News' viewing figures are now greater than CNN's, there's no denying - whatever one's views - that there are widely-aired viewpoints that do not concur with a liberal agenda. Most liberals would definitely feel that the 'MSM' is quite far to the right. BrianRobertson 21:24, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

Well, I'll tell you what: why don't you go dig up a survey of people who describe themselves as liberal. Seems to me as though you're counting the voices of liberal politicians, editors, anchors, et cetera.--TerryH^Talk 21:29, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

Alternet, a liberal news site, has some good refs that you can check: [1], [2], [3]

Oh, and one more thing: Don't tell me that Fox News is part of the MSM. It's not, they never pretend to be, and indeed they are proud to say that they are not.--TerryH^Talk 21:32, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

According to Nielsen, Fox News has 9 of the 10 most viewed shows on Cable TV News in Dec 2006; it has the second-highest cumulative numbers, between CNN and MSNBC; their mean peaktime viewing figures have them with triple the viewers of MSNBC, and double the viewers iof CNN; and "In 2006, more than half the people watching cable news were watching Fox News (as they have since 2001)."[4] That sounds like the very definition of mainstream to me, no? BrianRobertson 22:12, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

I could've swore that MSM-status was decided by how mainstream something was, not whether or not it claimed to be mainstream... Kazumaru 21:35, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

Conservatives feel that everyone in the television MSM except Fox News has a liberal bias. That means ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN. So the liberals think one station (Fox News) is conservative. That's leaves ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN with a liberal bias. It doesn't make sense for liberals to think that the 'MSM' is quite far to the right. --Crocoite 21:37, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

That's wrong too - the more liberal or left-leaning, the more they feel that ALL channels and outlets are MSM. BrianRobertson 22:16, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

It's also used in any case where ABC, CBS, NBC or CNN understate something that Liberals feel to be a big issue, or taking the Administration's side just to be safe. Kazumaru 21:39, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

Should probably clarify- It's not shouted from the rooftops as much by Libs as by Cons. Kazumaru 21:42, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

Actually this idea of liberals using the MSM to mean conservative bias wouldn't be that surprising. They like to use our words and turn them into their liberal meaning. Like "gay" and "rainbow". --Crocoite 21:51, 1 August 2007 (EDT)

Yes, how dare they make rainbow mean "... optical and meteorological phenomena that cause a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines onto droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere." Before, it was just "PRETTY THING FROM GOD!" And so it should always be. And that's, that's the way I feel about it! Kazumaru 21:59, 1 August 2007 (EDT)