Ideological Bias?

• Liberal bias accusation

  • Selection bias: journalists have an “activist” and “progressive” ethic that causes them to attack traditional institutions and ideas
  • Evidence: surveys show journalists do tend to be more liberal, on some issues

• Status quo bias accusation

  • Mass media are businesses, so they would never truly criticize the American capitalist system
  • Evidence: newspaper endorsements favor Republicans, typically

• Cohen: journalist biases and owner/manager biases cancel out

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