Bernie Bias: The Mainstream Media Undermines Sanders at Every Turn

[AgingAmerican]

The pattern is to ignore, downplay and mischaracterize Sanders' positions.

Who knew, when Bernie Sanders announced a run in the Democratic primary, that not only would he meet with hostility from his main opponent's chief surrogates, but that the media would acquiesce and even collude to such a great degree?

When analyzing the quantity and content of the vast majority of what is said and written about Sanders, his campaign platform, and appearances, one finds a running theme across the so-called liberal media. The New York Times has been called out by more than one analyst, myself included, for its complete lack of serious coverage of Bernie Sanders.

...

In articles that address various aspects of the Democratic side of the primary, Senator Sanders' ability to succeed is always described in doubtful terms, even as Hillary Clinton's troubles in the polls are being described. The New York Times has published fewer than a dozen pieces that are Sanders campaign-specific and each is problematic in the way he is portrayed. Most often, Sanders' age and hair are highlighted, and the incorrect moniker "socialist" is applied. (Socialist and Democratic socialist are not interchangeable terms.)

...

The most harmful way anti-Sanders media bias has been manifested is by omission. In this respect, the New York Times is joined by the vast majority of the mainstream media in not typically reporting on Sanders, especially on policy. Overall there is a version of a “wall of silence” built by the media when it comes to serious reporting and analysis of his policies; or when analyzing or reporting on the policies of his opponents, a failure to mention Sanders' in contrast, especially when his is the more progressive position. This behavior hasn't gone unnoticed by readers. You can see numerous complaints from readers about the Times organization's bias toward Sanders. You see it in the New York Times comments section, on the Facebook pages and comments sections of all the major publications, and just about everywhere else. Readers complain about the lack of substantive coverage as well as the bias in what little is published. The Times' Jason Horowitz' piece, "Bernie Sanders Draws Big Crowds to His 'Political Revolution" drew over 1600 comments, double what the most popular columns usually fetch, with most in protest over the obvious bias of the piece and the Times' egregious lack of coverage of Bernie Sanders news.

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/bernie-bias-mainstream-media-undermines-sanders-every-turn

[KoKo]

1. Recommend!

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Look at who they tout and connect the dots, It's a compliment . n/t

[cantbeserious]

3. Know Thy Enemy - Oligarchs, Corporations And Banks - And Their Media And Political Party Minnions

eom

[appalachiablue]

4. K & R. THIS

Go Bernie!

[Uncle Joe]

5. My only quibble is with the term "mainstream media" that's quite misleading

"mainstream" would signify a concern for the mainstream of American Life and that's simply not the case.

The term "mainstream media" gives them more credit than they are due.

The corporate media as an institution is primarily concerned with very few exceptions in furthering and representing the best interests of oligarchs and the mega-corporations, money and the status quo are their driving engines.

Thanks for the thread, AgingAmerican.

[AgingAmerican]

6. Agree

Corporate control of the media and now our election process is the problem.

[Doctor_J]

7. Or just Big Media

[99Forever]

8. Doesn't matter.

The Revolution is on anyway and they can't stop it. The MSM can go fuck itself.

[jwirr]

9. And IMO this is going to backfire. The fact that the

media is owned by corporations who also support Hillary is not going unnoticed.

And much of the anger is this country is already toward those corporations and banks. Many are already blaming the DNC for limiting the exposure of the other candidates. It will not be that long before the two actions are lumped together and Hillary will get the blame.

I am not saying she is to blame - I am saying that she will get the blame.

[Myrina]

10. just heard on CNN ...

.... (paraphrasing) ... Bernie is only gaining ground because he's a "protest vote" by Dems who don't trust HRC.

:rolleyes:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. Wolfy will have a heart attack when Bernie wins

[Babel_17]

11. His popularity is rising

His supporters are enthusiastic

His message is winning people over

His main opponent has crumbling support, due to skepticism

Ignore what your lying eyes are seeing, believe the media

[Skittles]

12. it is a glaring example of how much corporations control the media

yes indeed

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. the ignoring phase

then comes the ridiculing phase and then the fighting phase.. Ghandi

[Enthusiast]

15. If the media ended its clear bias against Bernie tomorrow they would still suck.

Media suckage goes clear to the bone. The media enables this Fascist agenda we observe.


[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[Beartracks]

16. This year, the part of "Looney Fringe Guy" will be played by...

Welcome to Corporate Media Theater. This year, the part of "Looney Fringe Guy" will be played by Bernie Sanders.

The corporate media deals in stories -- not "news stories" that reflect factual goings-on, but "drama stories" that tell of conflict, close-calls, and surprise twists -- and the cast of characters that bring them to life. To that end, they need to cast real people from the factual world into the roles necessary to make the stories work. Thus, Bernie Sanders is "Looney Fringe Guy," since every Democratic presidential campaign has one (according to the corporate media's story template). In the past, the media has cast Jerry Brown and Dennis Kucinich in this role.

The characteristics of the role are well-known to viewers. "Looney Fringe Guy" is too far left, a radical, a thorn in the side of "Front Runner Guy" (or "Gal&quot , can't win the election, and isn't even a serious candidate to begin with. "Looney Fringe Guy" is supposed to be a peripheral character (except as a counter-point to "Front Runner Guy's" electability, or as the punch-line for jokes), and the story calls for him to never gain traction, perform dismally in the primaries, and to drop out of the race.

And if ignoring the real-life politician playing "Looney Fringe Guy" can maybe help make that Corporate Media story-arc happen, that's what the Corporate Media will do.

===================

[ZX86]

17. On point.

This is exactly what they do.

The only problem is Bernie refuses to play along in interviews. It's like Jon Stewart on Crossfire. He goes way off script, reveals truth, and makes the interviewers look like the clueless, beltway, conventional "wisdom" dopes they are.

[Beartracks]

18. Yeah, Bernie keeps breaking character.

And, viewers aren't supposed to take "Looney Fringe Guy" seriously!!1!

... Unless, of course, his name is Donald Trump.

===================================

[Katashi_itto]

19. K&R