Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

This website is a part of a research project for MSTD 335.

The above stages demonstrate the process by which this project came about. If you would like to see how this site came to be, please explore
Stages 1-3.

Questions or Comments? Please Email Me Here!

Introduction

The media's biased coverage and reporting of presidential elections has a potentially large influence on the outcome of elections due to inaccurate polling, selective reporting and detrimental labeling of candidates campaigning for public office.

This website with take an in-depth look at the idea of bias in the news media and the effect it had on the 2000 Presidential Election.

What is Media Bias?

To recognize a media bias, one must first understand what the difference is between reporting the news and giving an analysis of the current events. The job of a reporter or news anchor is to present a story based on the tangible facts by answering the questions - Who?, What?, Where?, and When?. When the reporter or news anchor begins answering the question "Why?" is when the story turns into a news analysis and the reporter and anchor become news analysts. This is because the question "Why?" can probably be answered many different ways depending on the analysts' view.

Why is Media Bias a Problem?

It is a common misconception that the presence of media bias in the world's news would be harmless as long as there were plenty of views to balance a story. However, the news outlets existing today are not balanced by any means. Some news networks (ie: CNN, Fox News Network, MSNBC) would say they are trying to remedy the problem of media bias by having both a liberal and conservative present to discuss the issue and try to offer a balanced view. Many media experts, however, would disagree and say any presence of media bias is detrimental to the public. Another argument would be that there will always be a media bias but the current steps that have been taken to accommodate this bias are still far off from presenting a truly well rounded view.

So What's a Consumer to Do?

It seems this media-driven world we live in is having trouble even admitting the fact that everyone carry's a bias towards any issue and it is hard to suppress that bias because it is the way humans are wired. Until reporters, anchors, editors, and the rest of the media elite learn how to separate news from analysis, the quest for the truth lies in the hands of the media consumer. Unfortunately it is now the consumer’s job to take in as much media as possible and decide on issues or who to vote for on their own. The problem comes arise when we just tune-in to one station everyday or read one newspaper and mistake "biased facts" as the truth.

Coming Soon: Interviews with Dr. Gwen Brown, of Radford University's Communications Department, and Dr. Matt Franck, Charirman of Radford University's Policitcal Science Department.