The Truth & Media Bias
Professor Forsythe scratches he beard even though it doesn’t itch. It’s a compulsive habit akin to others rubbing their hands, adjusting their glasses, or stress sweating. The late summer heat has forced him into a nice floral polo instead of his usual suit coat and slacks. He knows he looks less intellectual and authoritative which only makes him scratch his beard all the more.
His class is a collection of impassive youths looking only for some easy credit and nothing more. For some reason they resent him for his eight o’clock class even though they are the ones who signed up for it. Forsythe takes another quick look at his notes and right there decides to teach them anyway.
“Ok, let’s begin with trust because you can’t be an effective source of information unless those who are listening trust you. I am correct in this. Now you trust someone when you understand their motivation – where they’re coming from.
For example, when you go out to eat with your mother and she offers to pay, you don’t think a thing of it. You trust her because you know she loves you and wants to see you feed. You understand her motivation. Now if you go out to eat with your roommate and he offers to pay for the meal; you’re curious. You think, ‘What in the #$%!!!$% is this joker doing trying to pay for my deep fried apple pie?”
Forsythe waits for chuckles…nothing.
“Anyway, you don’t trust your roommate because you don’t understand his motivation. You want to know what’s going on behind the curtain. You see, trust is when you understand what motivates a person. When you have a good idea what’s going on inside the other person’s brain, only then are you at ease.”
The professor flips to the second page of his notes. “Let’s jump to the media. People claim that there is bias in the media and they’re right. It’s professional for journalists to just state the facts but it’s impossible for journalists to completely unplug their own opinions about the situation. Do you honestly believe that those that own media outlets and those that craft the message do nothing to shade their own point of view? I don’t believe it and neither should you.
“I was listening to public radio on the way to class today. Now I believe that public radio leans left. Can I prove it? No, but listen to this…I could make a case that it has a liberal bias based on a lot of coincidental evidence but there is no way on God’s green earth I could make a case for it drifting right. Do you see what I mean? I take everything they say with a grain of salt because I don’t trust them. I can’t be sure where they’re coming from especially since Bush spent his term in office trying to nix their funding and Obama solidified it. Which way would you shade?”
It’s difficult to tell if any of the young people are listening. Forsythe is sure some of them are hiding their tiny earphones under their ridiculously long hair.
“Here’s the solution. I also listen to conservative talk radio. I find it much easier to listen to because they make no bones about where they’re coming from! There’s no subversion there. They freely admit – no proclaim – that they ride the right wing. It’s informative AND interesting! Some of you may tap into liberal blogs. Hey, you may not be able to trust the all the facts but at least you know where they writer is coming from.”
The professor stops to accentuate his point. “The idea of an unbiased media is a noble one but it’s much like a utopia – it doesn’t exist and never will. If you want balance, shouldn’t you take your news from multiple sources? You know, hear both arguments?”
A cell phone goes off and the kids begin shuffling out. The classroom quickly grows quiet.
“Maybe I’ll do something useful today.” Forsythe says to himself. “I think I’ll dye my beard to match my favorite suit coat.”
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