Journalists are more libertarian than liberal?

[zaj]

I've heard that most *journalists* voted for Clinton and this is a major justification for calling the media "liberal".

While I wouldn't be shocked to find this to be an accurate stat, my theory is that that most members of the media is more libertarian rather than liberal (small L's).

That they prioritize freedoms (speech, press, etc) over the more conservative issues of (most) Libertarians (big L) such as anti-tax legislation.

That in the end, objective journalists have (or had, they are a rare breed these days) an anti-establishment, anti-authority bias with a self interested political leaning in favor of freedom of the press.

My question is... is there anything to backup this theory?

[info being]

1. Journalists are more "corporate apologist" than either

If you're talking about the mainstream media, that's their job of course. See Manufacturing Consent if you haven't already.

[Captain Hilts]

2. They're too wealthy, hence the lack of coverage on healthcare issues. nt

[SteppingRazor]

3. Journalists are wealthy?!

Man, when does my ship come in then?

I guess I'll assume you're talking about the tiny handful of national broadcast anchors. Because, I can tell you from personal experience, your ypical newspaper reporter is far, far from wealthy.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Correct. Local folks, no. 'National' and 'DC', yes.

Thank you for the clarification.

[Bobbieo]

4. Journalists are Libertarians

My hometown paper - The Yuma Daily Sun - is openly libertarian.

[AverageJoe]

5. Most journalists have gone the way of the dinosaur

Let's see, there's Helen Thomas. And where do we find her work???? It's sure not in my newspaper.

And then there's....? Molly Ivans is great, but she's a columnist, not a reporter. Can you think of any other real, honest to god journalists working today? I cannot. If there were anything RESEMBLING a free press in the United States, the * house of cards would crumble before lunch today.

Those freaks and traitors who suck up the air waves and newsprint are nothing but shills and evil reptiles gorging on the fat and blood of a zombied out populace. Journalists? The boys and girls of Pravda USA aren't worthy to lick the dirt off of Walter Cronkite's shoes.

Do you hear me, CNN? ABC? NBC? CBS? (woe to CBS for sacrificing Dan Rather) MSNBC? The Washington Post? The New York Freaking Times?!!! You people are killing our country and you don't even give the first rat's ass about it. Have you no shame? Have you no shame? Have you, finally, NO SHAME?

I won't even mention the Rupart Molach channel.

I don't think the media whores are liberal or libertarian or, for the most part, even conservative. I think they are greedy, craven idiots who don't give a shit about anything but fame and a big paycheck.

People don't follow * because they're scared of terrorists. They follow * because the media tells them the only thing we have to fear is that our favorite contestant won't win on American Idol, or that pretty blonde women are being hunted down by deranged killers, or Democrats are disloyal to our Great Leader. All of this, my friends, is fear itself.

I don't know a goddamned soul who's afraid of terrorists. Do you?

Where have you gone, Edward R. Murrow?

One of the problems may be that our universities have, for the most part, moved from teaching Journalism to Communications. That may not sound like much of a switch, but it's huge. It's one thing to teach someone how to communicate effectively. It's quite another to grow in them a sense of journalistic integrity and pride.

Oh, hell. I'm ranting. I'm just furious at this mess. Just, just, just, just...oh, hell--forget it.


Edits: Stupid spelling mistakes caused by furious, shaking hands....

[MrPrax]

7. More Mercenary...

Journalist=literate...
Once you establish this rather large labor pool, then you simply grab the ones that can read and write to fit the priorities of ownership.

No magic here...anyone that can read and write with consistency and a eye to deadline can be a 'journalist' to produce media products.

[unblock]

8. most "journalists" WORK for republican bosses

and that's the key. whatever their own personal views and voting patterns, when they get to work, they toe the company line and appease their bosses. if that means promoting some corporations or tax giveaway or whatever gets them airtime or column space, then that's what they do.

and if they don't, their career suffers and someone else who does know how to play ball gets their story on the front page instead.

[Odin2005]

9. Journalists tend to be lefties...

...but thier bosses are Republicans.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. Journalists today are basically yuppies

Therefore, they're "liberal" on personal behavior issues such as sexual issues or drugs or freedom of speech, and environmental issues to the extent that their favorite hiking trails are preserved, but they like low taxes and have no interest in the economic issues of working class or poor people.

[ms liberty]

11. Check Pew Research...

I was looking at a poll from 2004 or early 2005 from them just last night, if I remember correctly it surveyed at 54% moderate, 34% liberal, I don't remember the other stats, but they poll it pretty regularly.