Progressive news

By Jim Killebrew

[May 08, 2014]  There is a lot of talk these days about the “progressive” or “liberal” journalism seeming to miss the news that puts a negative slant on some particular position the specific journalist may hold. This seems especially true for those journalists who have moved into the media of radio or broadcast news anchors. Even though many newspapers and magazine reporters fall within the “liberal” parameter, there are also charges against the “conservative” bias as well. Of course the “commentators” express personal biases because their perception of the “news” is more an analysis of the news, thereby constituting more opinion than fact.

Some of the more famous conservative commentators like Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Monica Crowley and Mark Levin have been maligned by the liberal crowd as these commentators present the conservative perspective in contrast to the policies, perspectives and actions of the political “leftists.” Everyone can accept and even expect the counterpoint perspective from these conservative commentators. But where are the “journalists” who appear on the network and cable “news” programs standing in deference to these commentators from within their training and experience to be journalists?

The educational requirements of the typical journalist are not unlike the preparation of any other field of study. Most professional careers are filled with people who started with a general education in their early college experience. Basic “liberal arts” and “lower divisional requirements” must be passed as the individual move along to a specialty requiring more focused learning. While seeking at least a bachelor’s degree with a major in journalism the would-be journalist will seek a concentration in some other related study that will enhance their skills in their job.
 

It goes without saying that experience is needed for the top jobs in media journalism. One way to get the experience is to complete an internship. I wonder in today’s world on the liberal side of journalism if the internist emulates the liberal anchor person who is in the tank for a politician so deeply he reports that he gets a tingle going up his leg every time he hears his favorite politician talk. Is that now the standard of professionalism and experience that educational institutions offering training in journalism require a built-in course or internship on learning bias and rejection of real news?

At the end of the journalist learning experience we expect certain abilities to have been learned. We generally think a good journalist will be like the lady of jurisprudence, holding the scales while wearing a blindfold. We like to think the journalist does not practice bias in a way that directs the news and colors it more from a perspective of being a cheerleader for their favored personal issues than presenting it in a “fair and balanced” way. For sure the American public who believes in the freedom of the press and freedom of speech wants more than mere opinion from a bunch of talking heads masquerading as news anchors pretending to practice objectivity while claiming to be credible.

One only has to look at the various issues that have raised the American citizen’s interest level during the past few years to understand the American “progressive” or liberal media have not offered up a “fair and balanced” representation of the actual news. At the same time, however, they have often ridiculed and maligned their conservative counterparts who have made efforts to present a “fair and balanced” perspective in reporting the news.

[By JIM KILLEBREW]