A couple of things. 1. I disagree that the BBC promotes an "America is evil" viewpoint. That is just hokum from the extreme right. BBC is an international network, not an American network and doesn't pull its punches for American audiences. BBC is not conservative, but it is far from liberal either. The original question was about balance. Even when BBC takes a stance, it presents opposing views. Don't judge them just by the Iraq coverage. The war is very unpopular in Britain and the rest of the world. The BBC presents to the entire world, not just to US interests and will criticise the US when it deems it fit, to retain credibilty. But it criticises our enemies much more. BBC is not perfect, but it is balanced. And don't be put off by British style. Resistance fighters is a proper term for many of the Iraqi insurgents who are guerrillas attacking soldiers . There are terrorists among them, but BBC only uses that term for those who kill civilians. The British also say things like "Mr. Ayatolla Khameini" or "Mr. Hitler". Just British style, don't put too many value judgements on it. CNN is more balanced on its International channel, as well, but is much more biased towards American viewers on the domestic channel that most of us watch. Fox gets little respect internationally, while CNN and BBC are widely respected. 2. This board is NOT representative of America. It is 99% male, apparently 99% white, and thin-skinned liberals and moderates often don't hang around long because of some of the insults and name calling that goes here. It makes things one-sided and hurts the quality of the forum, as Brett has noted in the sticky above. CottonBowl66 may have been a swaggering pr!ck, but there were more discussions and better debates when he was around. Now it is often just a neo-conservative back-slapping session.
I could not disagree more with your entire post. your attempt or sadly, your view of the 'big picture' is so off I don't know where to start. I'll just end it here: The fact these channels (CNN and BBC) are respected more 'internationally' totally deflates your argument given the total anti-US sentiment of our world today. Who do you think respects their agenda as fair and balanced? And where did you get these poll results or are you just throwing those out there?
From my experience you can tell which way a channel leans not by looking at its news coverage, but by its big-name anchors and talk show host. This is why people say CNN has a liberal bias, people look at Lary King and some of their others shows. And FOX definitely shows conservative bias among their big-name anchors and talk show host. By the way I voted for MSNBC, given the choices. And I know some of ya'll will think this is liberal, but PBS does a good job in my opinion with News Hour and also their special events coverage.
Who said anything about poll results? Not me. My opinions are based on my observations. You really don't read much international news, do you?
that's my point. the fact that they are well respected 'internationally' moreso than the United States makes total sense. I was agreeing with that issue....I was asking why do you think that is? I mean it should be obvious. No, I dont need a poll to believe that. I wanted your poll results whereas you think above opinions are not representative of America. I tend to think they are a lot closer than what you're trying to espouse. the fact you throw around statements how the BBC is balanced pretty much wraps it all up. And no, i don't read as much french press as you obviously do. I'm too busy figuring out the Koran.
Just to touch on the "international perspective" idea that gets tossed around.....generally people are talking about the european perspective when they say that. Nobody cares about the African press, the Middle Eastern press can hardly be considered accurate and for the most part the Asian countries live in their own world. Australia and New Zealand are just transplanted european countries in my opinion. Anyway, I lived and worked in europe for four years and I have to tell you that they have such a jaded/cynical/decadent culture that your average european wouldn't agree with 90% of the people that sit in Tiger Stadium. My point is that although it is refreshing to see international news just to step "outside the box" and get a different look at things I do not trust their judgement on many serious political or cultural matters. Europeans are great people in a lot of ways and I loved it there but politically they are completely self-absorbed, spineless and have abandoned their Christian heritage for the comfort of socialism. I wouldn't suggest we follow their lead.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/143lkblo.asp Study from 2003 but cannot confirm source http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5453852/site/newsweek/
Fox News is very right of center. Everything from their on-air talent to their news agenda to the selection and placement of guests to graphics and tickers scream conservative viewpoints. It's not just a few hours a day on specific programs. PBS is left of center, but I watch Frontline whenever I can. I think journalism by nature is a more liberal profession, but I can speak from experience that conservatives are more prevelant than ever before in the industry both in visible roles and behind the scenes. There is certainly a large contingent of liberal media members who are products of the late 60's and early 70's and are now heading toward retirement. And I'm talking about news media, not entertainment. And yes this board is dominated by conservatives, but I think that should be expected in a "red" state like Louisiana. However, the mood is often way too venomous on this board and definitely hostile toward moderate views, let alone liberal ones.
There's no question that Fox is right of center, though not as much as some here would think. There is also no question that there is a lot of Bush bashing going on in the national media. Actually, though, it's incumbent bashing. If Kerry wins the election there will be a brief honeymoon then the wolves will begin circling the Kerry camp and the Kerry bashing will begin. It goes back to the Watergate scandal of the 70s; report the news while trying to dig up anything you can to smear the incumbent.
