Kevin E. Magee
Media & Society
October 28, 2003
Stage #3: Research Project Proposal with Support
Unexpected
Success:
When I first took on the topic of biased coverage in the 2000
Presidential Election, I was a little worried that I would
not be able to support both sides: (1) that
there was a liberal bias in the coverage of the election or (2) that
there was a conservative bias in the coverage of the election.
I have been a follower of
media bias for quite sometime and most of the information I had gathered
was leaning more to the idea that conservatives thought
their
was a liberal bias
and liberals basically thought there was no bias at all.
Since starting this project, I found the battle of bias goes
both ways; liberals believe there is a conservative bias in
the media as well. This,
however,
posed a different problem. It made me wonder how sources could be reliable
if both
sides believe the other is biased. How can you honestly trust any source
which points out an example of bias, when that same source is being accused
of bias
from the other side? This question began an evolution of the idea that
there is bias on both sides and it is the consumer’s responsibility to consume
both liberal and conservative media and then make an educated decision on what
they believe.
This project has taken form mainly from all these questions and
conclusions I have gathered from research. I am attempting
to show examples of bias
on both
sides of this issue by gathering research which backs up this idea.
I have been very successful in finding numerous articles which
support
the idea
of both a
liberal and conservative bias during the election and in the news media
overall.
I have also found that people are eager to speak on this hot
topic. The moment I informed Dr. Gwen Brown, of the Radford
University Communications
Department,
that I would like to interview her about her own ideas and feelings
on
this issue, she jumped at the opportunity. She also volunteered her
husband, Dr.
Matt Franck
of the Radford University Political Science Department, to be interviewed
as well. The discussion of this topic did not end here, as for almost
everywhere I have been (scholarship dinners, banquets, family gatherings,
etc.), this
topic
has come up and discussion has taken place. This has been very helpful
for me in forming my own ideas of this topic as well as comforting
to me in knowing
this topic is very relative to everyday conversation, discussion,
and events.
Unexpected Problems:
The main problems I have had with this project have been on the
production side of things. I am presenting my project in website
form and I
had a little trouble
with the web publishing software at first. These troubles were
soon overcome and the website seems to be coming together nicely.
Another production problem has been lining up times for the interviews
with
Dr. Gwen Brown and Dr. Matt Franck. These problems have been due
to schedule conflicts and studio availability. However, these conflicts
are being
worked out and should cause no future hindrances. Other than these
minor problems,
this project has been taking shape smoothly.
Work Remaining:
1) Research: Most research has been completed at this time however
a couple more sources of bias need to be found as well as commentary
on
both sides of the issue.
2) Interviews: The two interviews I have planned
with Dr. Brown and Dr. Franck need to be produced but schedules
and crew are in the works.
Any more
interview prospects, which may come, will have to be assessed
at that time.
3) Website: Research needs to be posted on the website as well
as references. Once the two interviews are completed, they
must
be formatted and
uploaded on the web. This may call for more web space which
is easily accessible.
| 
