Modern news media has such an overwhelming number of outlets that viewers often choose programming that fits their tastes and ideological preferences, reinforcing preexisting political beliefs. Partisan media hosts make partisan leanings clearly evident, and reinforce partisan bias that overwhelms modern news coverage. This in turn affects the nature of news itself, in that, people get only a very narrow understanding and perception of the news when they seek only "one side" of any given story. Media bias is evident in many news outlets by simply analyzing key factors of word choice in content and visual framing choices.
Senator Rand Paul, a republican of Kentucky, held a 13 hour filibuster arguing future presidential drone authority, in turn delaying a final vote confirming John Brennan as CIA director on Wed. March 6. MSNBC, a liberal leaning news outlet, titled their article on the event: “McCain, Graham assail Rand Paul on targeted killings policy.” Right away the title shows the power of word choice for journalists. MSNBC uses the word “assail” to explain the friction between these republican senators and the words “targeted killings policy” to explain the drone policy. These words hold more negative connotations over the positive language focused on a “successful” or “victorious” filibuster on behalf of conservatives. This in itself proves the intended tone. MSNBC seems to want to frame an association among republicans and targeted killings, an associated undoubtedly negative and purposefully controversial and divisive.
MSNBC includes quotes from Senator Paul about bazookas and rocket launchers – a framing to portray the GOP as silly and extreme, no doubt. Though conservatives, liberals, and independents alike seem to hold issue with Senator Paul’s statements, the quotes included by MSNBC gave a sense that the Republicans were a party divided by conflict and confusion, by including quotes of the GOP directly attacking their own:
“‘I find the question offensive,’Graham said Thursday on the Senate floor. ‘As much as I disagree with President Obama and as much as I support past presidents, I do not believe that questions deserves an answer. Paul’s question cheapens the debate.’”
They also included this quote from Texas senator Ted Cruz to reinforce this idea:
“After repeated questioning from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Holder finally said it would also not be constitutional. Holder said, ‘I thought I was saying ‘no.’ ‘All right, no.’”
The words MSNBC chose focused on the quarreling of the Senators rather than the policy, also including a quote of Graham scolding Senator Paul:
“a lot of my colleagues are well-meaning but there is only one commander-in-chief in our Constitution,” said Graham.
MSNBC also visually portrayed division among the GOP by choosing pictures of senators McCain and Graham quarreling amongst themselves about Paul.
Photo Courtesy of MSNBC News
In this structure and content format, liberal party identity was strengthened by emphasizing this conflict among the GOP. Though the intention may have been to remain as neutral as possible, MSNBC clearly made choices in news content, images, and word choice that proclaimed liberal leanings and intentions. These factors can be analyzed in any news story in order to weigh and spotlight media bias.
Sources:
FoxNews.com. "Sen. Paul declares 'victory’ after Holder offers assurance on drones." Fox News, sec. U.S. Senate, March 7, 2013. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/07/historic-filibuster-renews-bipartisan-focus-on-drones-regulation/ (accessed March 7, 2013).
Curry, Tom. "McCain, Graham assail Rand Paul on targeted killings policy." NBC Politics, sec. National Affairs, March 7, 2013. 17225441-mccain-graham-assail-rand-paul-on-targeted-killings-policy (accessed March 7, 2013).
