Media bias is nothing new – the term “liberal media” is thrown around regularly by conservatives, and Fox News has been crowned the face of conservative outlets. We’ve seen obvious bias in our two-party political system, and the most recent headlines have largely focused on
Donald Trump’s call to ban Muslim immigrants has gotten extensive coverage during the presidential campaign. So did his disparaging comments about a Muslim Gold Star family. But has that degree of media attention to anti-Muslim bigotry been the rule, or an unusual exception? Journalists on
This is the first in a series of op-eds about polling in the election. John E. Newhagen is an associate professor emeritus at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Most polling stories go straight to the horserace – they focus on who
There is so much more to the Muslim religion than the broken record of terrorism and extremism the media perpetuates. Ismaili Muslims, for example, have a religious leader, the Aga Khan, who is responsible for $625 million worth of philanthropic programs all across the world that
Yesterday, the Washington Post editorial board published “No pardon for Edward Snowden,” arguing that the former NSA contractor-turned-whistleblower should return the United States, that he should stand trial for his actions, and that President Obama should choose against pardoning him. The view itself is fair. Snowden’s
The media’s duty is not to make the world better. Although some might believe that it is, the media isn’t meant to change the world directly. The media’s job is to inform the public of what people in power are doing. Today, journalists are faced
Gawker’s shutdown can serve as a lesson for media companies to walk a fine line between “newsworthiness” and “sensationalism.” Gawker.com, “the source for daily Manhattan media news and gossip,” filed a Chapter-11 bankruptcy last month after losing a $140 million lawsuit to former pro-wrestler Hulk
No breaking news story today is complete without a captivating image. These images become associated with all aspects of the story, and sometimes become the story. This has certainly become the case in many recent headlines, where the story becomes less about the issue, and
Over the course of a poll’s life – its production, analysis, and consumption – there are circumstances that can reduce its value. Not only are there are so many variables that contribute to an “efficient” poll, but the reporting of polls (specifically, candidate election polls)
Journalism isn’t dying. But, it’s changing rapidly. Every day, the news media industry seems to reinvent itself. Business models adapt, sections reorganize, and journalists adjust their focus. Journalism is a crucial tenet of democracy, holding the powerful accountable for its actions. And, oftentimes, journalism transports