Pew Study: MSNBC Almost Entirely Dominated By Opinion -

[Bill USA]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/18/msnbc-opinion-cable-news_n_2900160.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular#slide=2154021

MSNBC is far more reliant on opinion coverage than any of its cable news rivals, a new study found.

The Pew Research Center's annual "State of the Media" study was released Monday. One section of the report — which, when taken in its totality, makes for very gloomy reading — deals with changes in the television news landscape over the past five years.

The study's authors found that, since 2007, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC have all cut back sharply on the amount of actual reporting found on their airwaves. Cheaper, more provocative debate or interview segments have largely filled the void. MSNBC, though, stands out from the pack, Pew said:

[blockquote style="border: 1px solid #000000;padding: 5px;"]CNN, which has branded itself around reporting resources and reach, cut back between 2007 and 2012 on two areas tied to that brand—in-depth story packages and live event coverage. Even so, CNN is the only one of the three big cable news channels to produce more straight reporting than commentary over all. At the other end of that spectrum lies MSNBC, where opinion fills a full 85% of the channel’s airtime.

Pew found that Fox News spent 55 percent of the time on opinion and 45 percent of the time on reporting. Critics of that figure would likely contend that the network's straight news reporting tilts conservative, but it is true that Fox News has more shows that feature reporting packages than MSNBC does. The network's straight news hours — hosted by Chris Jansing, Thomas Roberts, Tamron Hall and Andrea Mitchell — are usually filled with interview segments or pundit debates.

I'd be interested to know how PEW judges a statement a matter of opinion.

IF someone subjects a statement by a politician to scrutiny by comparing the politicians assertions to the findings of scientifically based, empirical research and concludes that the statements of the politicians (or the personality on FOX news) don't stand up to scrutiny - is that a statement of "opinion"?

..if you cite empirically based studies to establish that statements of politicians or M$M Toadies are not valid -- that is not a statement of an opinion.

[ZRT2209]

1. opinions which just happen to coincide with facts

[Blue Owl]

2. So what the fuck is FOX news almost entirely dominated by?

(as if we need Pew to tell us)

[Life Long Dem]

3. If I wanted to watch a channel with all news reports, I would.

[defacto7]

4. That's one hell of a twisted study.

They would have to make incredible assumptions about what is fact, what is news, what is relevant, what is entertainment, what is false... There is nothing about this study that IS a study. It's editorial.

[Bill USA]

5. without their providing some objective measure by which they decided a statement or program was

an opinion or opinion based.. I don't see how they should expect anybody to put any confidence in the conclusions of their 'study'. ... meaning, people will be reluctant to consider it an actual, objective study.

[defacto7]

6. Agreed....

The only thing I would say differently is that they probably know what they are doing; they have an agenda to squeeze. I wish people would be reluctant to consider it, but I am afraid most people will see it and believe it... just because.

But you are right. For me, they have lost a great deal of credibility.

[hepkat]

7. DUH so what?

I wantch it because I want these people's opinions...

I read newspapers for the reporting, TV sucks at reporting things. TV rarely covers things with any depth unless it involves subjective views.

Thank god MSNBC doesn't try to cloak it's opinions as reporting like Faux.

And yes Pew's methodology meant classifying the broadcast day into personality driven programs (opinion) and newscasts (non-opinion) which anyone who watches fox knows is not a good method. Their newscasts echo the same Ailes talking point directives as the personality driven programs on faux.