Is the West's mainstream media predominantly left-leaning, right-leaning, or neutral?

[icehorse]

Of course there are certain “news” organizations with clear agendas, left or right. But what’s your impression of the overall balance across Western media sources?

 

[ADigitalArtist]

How are we defining 'most'? Because there are a ton of really tiny news organizations with various levels of lean, and there are really large organizations with more money and access with multiple branches with various levels of lean. If you take all the small organizations together as ticks towards 'most' then it's probably more left leaning. But if you're talking about news with the most consumption, household availability, money and power, then it's more right-leaning. Fox news in particular is received by 81.4% of cable users, the highest ratings in news slots, and is the definitely not fair and balanced lovechild of right leaning Rupert Murdoch and Republican media consultant Roger Ailes.

So, in short, depends on how you want to look at it. Lots more left leaning small news networks or one giant powerhouse of a right leaning one.

 

[Willamena]

Lately, it seems, it's the journalist's leanings rather than the news agency's leanings that count most.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Left in urban.

Right in rural and suburban.

 

[Kirran]

I couldn't answer the poll, as I agree with none of the options! I don't think it leans simply right or left, but neither do I think is it fair and balanced. I think it leans strongly in favour of the current establishments and capitalist liberal democracy more broadly.

 

[sayak83]

Of course there are certain “news” organizations with clear agendas, left or right. But what’s your impression of the overall balance across Western media sources?

It's predominantly shallow and superficial

 

[fantome profane]

I don't think it is even a matter of left or right. They are biased in terms of selling a simple compelling narrative. They are biased towards being entertaining for their viewers.

That being said I don't think the mainstream media is a bad as some want to portray them. The stories they report are usually fair and accurate. The bias comes more from the stories they don't report. And from how much time they give one story over another.

 

[PeteC-UK]

Hi Folks..

OK - so call me dumb - lol - but all my life I have heard people speak of "left wing" and "right wing" - conservative and liberal - and such other labels...Always spoken off as if it is a given that we all understand their meaning...Except - Hmm - I dont actually understand - what IS this left and right and why did they get labelled that way..???.... I dotn have clue whaere MY philosophy should stand in al that...lol..

I mean - other labels - conservative and liberal for example - pretty self explanatory...But left right..???....

Oh and btw - western media - stay away from it - is ever only a partial truth whichever side it presents...These days - the internet - you tube even is a better source than most mainstream - first hand direct news accounts from witnesses, always better than edited accounts with agenda..

 

[Augustus]

It's not really a straightforward question.

In terms of hard news, even assuming a hypothetical perfect objectivity, the media would generally be biased towards the existing establishment and those currently in positions of power.

These people and institutions are better placed to generate news content, set media agendas and frame issues.

At times, news values and ongoing news themes can work against certain people/organisations also which can appear like bias even assuming the hypothetical pure objectivity (see Hillary/Trump negative news swings).

It's not just a simple question of left/right bias which is why both sides seem to think the media is biased against them. And that's before you move into news commentary and opinion...

 

[Laika]

Of course there are certain “news” organizations with clear agendas, left or right. But what’s your impression of the overall balance across Western media sources?

Voted "mostly right-leaning" but I'm happy to concede its relative to where you are on the spectrum and I'm biased.

(I.e. Liberals are right wing seen from the far left.)

 

[Jonathan Ainsley Bain]

Of course there are certain “news” organizations with clear agendas, left or right. But what’s your impression of the overall balance across Western media sources?

Certainly biased in much the same way that your pole is.
It pretends there are two options, both of which are puppets coordinated by the puppeteer
to off the final option of glorification of the puppet-show.

Hi Folks..

OK - so call me dumb - lol - but all my life I have heard people speak of "left wing" and "right wing" - conservative and liberal - and such other labels...Always spoken off as if it is a given that we all understand their meaning...Except - Hmm - I dont actually understand - what IS this left and right and why did they get labelled that way..???.... I dotn have clue whaere MY philosophy should stand in al that...lol..

I mean - other labels - conservative and liberal for example - pretty self explanatory...But left right..???....

Oh and btw - western media - stay away from it - is ever only a partial truth whichever side it presents...These days - the internet - you tube even is a better source than most mainstream - first hand direct news accounts from witnesses, always better than edited accounts with agenda..

I think the left and right historically may have had real meaning,
but they are both owned by the same corporate cronies nowadays.

You will notice that the real issues are always spread evenly between
the various parties, no matter which country you are in.

The sooner people opt out of voting, the more real the world will get.
But overpopulation is the real devil, because it causes tunnel vision;
which is why the establishment has to resort to puppet shows -
because the small minds of the crowds cannot actually think clearly
because they are too concerned with petty squabbling for perks.

I try to look at it from every perspective, and notice that individuals
often blame the establishment for making policies that are simply crowd control.
The individual is often swamped by the crowd and the crowd-controller.
It can be reduced to a simply psychological development problem too:
overweening.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Couldn't vote based on the available options. I needed something like 'Individual sources are commonly biased, no clear overall direction of bias'

Which admittedly is a horribly worded poll option.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It depends on the medium and genre. Comedy, for example, tends to be Left leaning. Country music tends to be Right leaning. As for news, it seems the bias mostly comes from larger news corporations, and, in my experience at least, is less prominent and visible at the local news level (though not entirely absent).

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Mostly profit-leaning.

 

[Reggie Miller]

Definitely left leaning, for the most part.

 

[PeteC-UK]

Hi Folks..

Jonathan; Thanks for the clarity my friend...

But overpopulation is the real devil, because it causes tunnel vision; which is why the establishment has to resort to puppet shows -
because the small minds of the crowds cannot actually think clearly because they are too concerned with petty squabbling for perks.

Hmm -very true...I would even say the "authority" wants and needs it that way -so they bombard us constantly with crap - tv - adverts - manipulaton - to force us into blindly doing as they need us to continue doing so they can remain dominant and unchallenged.. Hmm - crowd control indeed...Most of this polotics is utter fraud and deception I find, be that left or right.....