The war on Fox. Does Canadian media tend to lean one way?

[Glacier]

A very interesting and informative post, homeownertoo. Thanks.

My question is, WHY do those in the media lean to the left? Would this bias result from their broad experience gained through journalism, or would it be that those with a left-leaning predisposition are more attracted to a career in media than a right-leaning person?

[Homeownertoo]

A very interesting and informative post, homeownertoo. Thanks.

My question is, WHY do those in the media lean to the left? Would this bias result from their broad experience gained through journalism, or would it be that those with a left-leaning predisposition are more attracted to a career in media than a right-leaning person?

I suspect the latter. Like most journalists, I got into it out of university when I was still a card-carrying NDPer and found most of my colleagues shared the same political views. If there is any trend during their career, most journalists (like most adults) become more conservative/less leftwing over time.

I'd guess journalism tends to attract people with a leftwing outlook, people who think they might make a difference through their work, similar to lawyers and teachers. Whereas business attracts people who want to create or build something, or just make money.

Also, most people who graduate with a liberal arts degree have been saturated with leftwing points of view for four or more years. That must color the perceptions they bring to their post-grad work.

[quietlywatching84]

I'd guess journalism tends to attract people with a leftwing outlook, people who think they might make a difference through their work, similar to lawyers and teachers. Whereas business attracts people who want to create or build something, or just make money.

Absolutely, the university press in Canada are flooded with left leaning viewpoints. Once you get into it you get soaked with the ideology.

Although I think after awhile in that atmosphere, you learn to have contempt for the leftists. I've seen many a time across Canada, young journalists who write about issues quickly notice that there is a very aggressive and protectionist feature to the left at universities, and that they can be just as evil as the right.

[steven lloyd]

A better consolation would be hearing (reading) your idea about how the media in Canada operates instead of just telling me my idea is wrong

Fair enough.

Thanks homeowner, I appreciate your response. It was very informative.

[steven lloyd]

Like most journalists, I got into it out of university when I was still a card-carrying NDPer and found most of my colleagues shared the same political views. If there is any trend during their career, most journalists (like most adults) become more conservative/less leftwing over time.

Unlike most journalists, I slowly adopted a more left-wing perspective after entering university embracing right-ideals so extreme they were out the door and into the hallway - stage right (I had been born and raised and lived in Calgary, Alberta and working as a commodities broker there before moving to BC with the idea of getting an economics degree and becoming a stockbroker). I admit, my experience in university challenging my preconceived notions in an environment, if not “saturated with leftwing points”, at least abounding with them.

Thankfully, I am still able to admit I don’t know everything and like to think I am still capable of challenging my thinking enough to continue to learn – even from what I read on these forums by posters like yourself, Al and Nabs (to name just a few). Perhaps interestingly, it has been my participation on these forums that has brought me back much closer to the ideological centre (even right of centre on some issues), especially when I’ve taken the time to read to understand instead of just thinking how I would defend my own pre-existing viewpoint (a popular strategy I am not necessarily accusing you of or claiming I am faultless at avoiding).

I think it’s good to have the opportunity to openly consider all perspectives, especially in my situation where what I see every day in the work I do so much reinforces the concepts of marginalization and intervention we studied at university (my second degree was in social work – ya, I know - pretty “left-wing”, right?) and the results of research we continue to conduct in my field.

[johnp3]

I am retired so I was watching Obama when he went to the Republican retreat, 240 to 1, I started out watching CNN and thought it would be more interesting to watch `FOX`and see what they had to say, well it was watching and it was not very long and you could tell it was not a fair discussion. Obama was making the Republicans look like a bunch of fools. So FOX, they broke away to have GLEN BECK, blabber about progressives, it was a canned piece. Their is no way, that FOX was going to have there viewers, watch one guy take on the 240 with there questions that some of them could hardly read, get blown out of the water by one guy. No notes, just his memory.

[Al Czervic]

I am retired so I was watching Obama when he went to the Republican retreat, 240 to 1, I started out watching CNN and thought it would be more interesting to watch `FOX`and see what they had to say, well it was watching and it was not very long and you could tell it was not a fair discussion. Obama was making the Republicans look like a bunch of fools. So FOX, they broke away to have GLEN BECK, blabber about progressives, it was a canned piece. Their is no way, that FOX was going to have there viewers, watch one guy take on the 240 with there questions that some of them could hardly read, get blown out of the water by one guy. No notes, just his memory.

It is actually very entertaining to watch the same story being covered by CNN as opposed to how it is covered by Fox. At least Fox makes no bones about their being a right wing network. For whatever reason left leaning networks like the CNN and CBC always try and hide their letist bias and pretend to be non partisan. That is what gets to me. I don’t mind that the CBC is leftist to the core but it drives me insane how they try to pretend otherwise. Basically everything the CBC does save for Hockey Night in Canada is left leaning. CBC Radio is even worse.

[johnp3]

I did not see much coverage of "THE HIGHWAY OF DEATH" on the CBC. Now Global, CKNW did they ever have any broadcast that did not pedal that BS. For the year before the election do they ever have a broadcast without mentioning the Fast Ferries, or Fudget Budget. Do they ever mention Gordos budget BS, where is the indignation about the BC Rail trial taking so long. What they are good at is pedaling a lot of hate lies and fear. If they were Left leaning they would start every broadcast with the percentage of children that are below the poverty line, what they do pedal is how raising the minimum wage, would kill the economy. Where is the rants about the percentage of the province Alcan has control of, and for what benefit to the people of this province. Tree Farm licences, what do they do for the people of this province compared to in the 60's.

[Homeownertoo]

It is actually very entertaining to watch the same story being covered by CNN as opposed to how it is covered by Fox. At least Fox makes no bones about their being a right wing network. For whatever reason left leaning networks like the CNN and CBC always try and hide their letist bias and pretend to be non partisan. That is what gets to me. I don’t mind that the CBC is leftist to the core but it drives me insane how they try to pretend otherwise.

You are right and the reason is revealing. Right-leaning networks admit their bias because they understand that we all have biases. The left don't, but not because they are trying to hide it; they truly believe that being left-wing is non-partisan and unbiased, that it is the position of any sentient being, and that to hold an alternate view is evidence of biased thinking -- meaning, usually, thinking that has been distorted to serve the interests of the corporate agenda, the oil industry, the military-industrial complex and other such leftist shibboleths. The Left believes part of its mission is to 'correct' this distortion in the corporate-controlled flow of information by presenting the unbiased truth. So there is no bias to admit!

[steven lloyd]

they truly believe that being left-wing is non-partisan and unbiased, ...

Or maybe they're not even left wing, and it's only that anything left of your extremist position (closer to the center) just looks partisan and biased to you. Maybe, eh ?

Mind you, what do I know. I'm a closet socialist.

[Homeownertoo]

they truly believe that being left-wing is non-partisan and unbiased, ...

Or maybe they're not even left wing, and it's only that anything left of your extremist position (closer to the center) just looks partisan and biased to you. Maybe, eh ?

Mind you, what do I know. I'm a closet socialist.

Oh, I wouldn't call you a closet socialist.

[Homeownertoo]

they truly believe that being left-wing is non-partisan and unbiased, ...

Or maybe they're not even left wing, and it's only that anything left of your extremist position just looks partisan and biased to you.

Now there's an extremist position! Might I suggest you look up the word 'extremist' in a reputable dictionary.

[steven lloyd]

Oh, I wouldn't call you a closet socialist.

touche

[steven lloyd]

Might I suggest you look up the word 'extremist' in a reputable dictionary.

Got one I can borrow ?

[melwilde]

To begin, This kind of discussion is long overdue and while we can get defensive in our arguments
we need to keep asking the question "WHY" is our media biased. The recognition that we have such an entrenched bunch scribbling for our media is fresh air for me.
Without out doubt the worst of our media is the CBC which devotes every ounce of their effort lambasting the Conservative Government in Ottawa. We don't have much balance in our scribblers here in kelowna either. Prima donna types crying when a reporter doesn't get his or her perceived degree of attention. Poor homework and just lazy attitudes toward working to get to the real stories.
I don't think we are going to make any difference to the attitudes for those teaching university classes, but surely we can start demanding that publishers insist on some balance.
One thing I do know is with age and experience many of our young journalist will mature into fine working reporters. We all understand that each of us looks at the world through the lens of our life experience. As that experience grows perception improves.
Winston Churchill once said, "show me a young conservative and I'll show you a person with no heart... show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains".
With age comes maturity!