Which media outlets...

[ethiostar]

I have been wanting to ask the 'opinion' of zoners about this matter for a while now but I've been hesitant because I've been afraid that some people might turn it into a political thread.

I'm going to ask it now and hope posters would have the self-restraint to avoid getting into a political debate over it.

I want to know which media outlets you believe are the most objective. Meaning, they don't serve as a mouth piece for any particular party. Instead, they present or report on various issues, provide opinions from as many sides as possible, and avoid, as much as possible, persuading the audience to one particular perspective.

I'm not necessarily asking which ones support your view points but rather which ones provide (or try to at least) a balanced overview of various topics, especially politics.

Please name one TV channel, one radio channel, one newspaper, and maybe one online source.

If you don't think there are any in any one of those mediums then please say so.

If you don't agree with what someone has to say, please please please please do not make it a political debate.

Thank you in advance.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I am not sure there is a new station (tv) that is unbiased as a whole. I just don't think anyone could say MSNBC, ABC, CNN, CBS or Fox news without lying to themselves.

I have heard good things about BBC America news but I don't watch it so I don't know.

 

[bbgun]

I have been wanting to ask the 'opinion' of zoners about this matter for a while now but I've been hesitant because I've been afraid that some people might turn it into a political thread.

Don't worry. They will.

http://img133.*************/img133/6493/inbeforethelock3zd.jpg

 

[WoodysGirl]

Rich Eisen - NFL Network

 

[ShiningStar]

None, period. Havent for a long long long long long time. You pander to an audience and advertising. The media is the same as us human beings, the dollar comes first. Maybe not all humans but its not just companies and its not just entertainment, it is everything. And i say humans because some will do anything for a buck, so to think media is unbiased hasnt been proving since man put stick to stone, or sand.

 

[peplaw06]

There are none that I'm aware of... they're all controlled by the almighty dollar.

 

[MetalHead]

None.
Fox is right wing and they won't deny it.
The others mentioned are clearly left(MSNBC leading the way by far),but they think themselves as center.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

whoever controls the media, controls the world. -- Joseph Goebbels

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I seldom watch the news and I don't have a particularly noble reason for not doing so. My interests reside in areas other than staying abreast on current events.

Pure objectivity is a myth. Even when a news channel isn't shilling for an ideology or party, it still shows a bias by excluding certain viewpoints. What about the Constitution Party? Or the Libertarian Party? Or the Communist Party? Obviously, a news channel can't present every conceivable interest group so bias is unavoidable.

I generally prize intellectual honesty -- a source's ability to be forthright and honest about its biases, and consistent in its application of a methodology. Therefore, the only source that I will outright dismiss is Michael Moore.

 

[theebs]

lol That popped up on my IPOD this morning when I had it on shuffle!!!!

I had a friend when I was younger and he was a real annoying pain in ther rear....anyway on our bus to school there was a girl who was really skinny....and umm flatt...

so anyway when she would get on the bus my friend and a couple of other knuckleheads would serenade her with...I aint got no body....no body.....

it went on for like two years. What a knucklehead.

 

[theebs]

I seldom watch the news and I don't have a particularly noble reason for not doing so. My interests reside in areas other than staying abreast on current events.

Pure objectivity is a myth. Even when a news channel isn't shilling for an ideology or party, it still shows a bias by excluding certain viewpoints. What about the Constitution Party? Or the Libertarian Party? Or the Communist Party? Obviously, a news channel can't present every conceivable interest group so bias is unavoidable.

I generally prize intellectual honesty -- a source's ability to be forthright and honest about its biases, and consistent in its application of a methodology. Therefore, the only source that I will outright dismiss is Michael Moore.

Being a person very interested in documentaries I like the topics michael moore tackles, unfortunately he is not honest and ruins what could be a good thing since he commands alot of attention.

oh well.

 

[WoodysGirl]

theebs did you know there's a new Documentary channel? I don't know if you have DTV, but if you do, the channel is 263.

According to the TV message, it's devoted to documentary films and the independent filmmaker.

 

[Vintage]

None. They are all biased. And they all suck. The only difference is, to which degree, do they suck.

You are better off trying to go to the original source, or as close as you can.

For example... the coverage on the DHS report that was leaked out (but given to police across the country).... (I'm NOT discussing politics, rather just throwing out an example). I suspect the coverage of the issue sucked. I didn't bother with it. I went and found the report, read it, and formed my own opinion.

I don't need Fox, or CNN, or MSNBC, or any other ****ty *** "news" agency telling me how I should feel. I can read it for myself and come to my own conclusion.

 

[theebs]

theebs did you know there's a new Documentary channel? I don't know if you have DTV, but if you do, the channel is 263.

According to the TV message, it's devoted to documentary films and the independent filmmaker.

No I didnt. That is awesome. Thanks!

oh and to get back on topic to the original question.

I like the today show, because I love Ann Curry.

 

[MetalHead]

No I didnt. That is awesome. Thanks!

Recommend some...I'm interested.drug crime docus are good.
Cocaine Cowboys comes to mind...so does Killing Pablo.

 

[Vintage]

I seldom watch the news and I don't have a particularly noble reason for not doing so. My interests reside in areas other than staying abreast on current events.

Pure objectivity is a myth. Even when a news channel isn't shilling for an ideology or party, it still shows a bias by excluding certain viewpoints. What about the Constitution Party? Or the Libertarian Party? Or the Communist Party? Obviously, a news channel can't present every conceivable interest group so bias is unavoidable.

I generally prize intellectual honesty -- a source's ability to be forthright and honest about its biases, and consistent in its application of a methodology. Therefore, the only source that I will outright dismiss is Michael Moore.

I will say this about Michael Moore....

He usually is somewhat entertaining. I think he slants his movies like no other, distorts reality, and doesn't give credence to the other side at all.... and at times, when watching his movies, I get the strange urge to punch my TV in some disturbing hope that he would actually feel it....

But.... at some point in his movies, always, I find something that entertains me. His latest movie about Capitalism, despite the sheer gimmick of showing up on Wall Street asking about derivatives, showing up at banks asking for the bailout money back, the citizens arrest stuff, and the attempt to have a meeting with the CEO of (whomever, i forgot)... I found it amusing. Completely a gimmick? Yes. But who wasn't rooting for him to "arrest" the CEO's of companies that screwed us royally?

 

[hairic]

Television: I don't go to it for any news, but if I was forced to: Of the broadcast networks (CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC, PBS), I'd watch PBS. I'd have to check their schedule of course, because a lot of it isn't relevant. Of the extra networks (cable, satellite): C-SPAN, C-SPAN 2, C-SPAN 3. Maybe a local city channel, but they're usually poor.

Radio: Cannot comment at all. I have never listened to talk radio; always music. If people are talking, I don't pay attention.

Newspaper: If I was forced to pick a paper, I'd search for any remaining independent papers. Newspapers have suffered the same fate as all US media; it's being consolidated to a few sources. Your local paper is good for composting after you read the local fluff, though (weather, sports, comics, etc. And the opinion section for the lulz/facepalms). The news wire services is where it's really at, and where the newspapers get most of their stories.

Online source: I can't choose just one. Aggregators are what I go to, further aggregated from their RSS feeds. At the end of the day, this method exposes me to about 200-400 news sources per day and probably 1,000 per week. One online source: http://news.google.com

 

[Cajuncowboy]

TV- Foxnews. They have more diversity in their anchors from the political spectrum.

Newspaper- Wall Street journal.

 

[ethiostar]

Thanks for the response all and please keep them coming.

I understand that there are no media outlets that are completely free of bias. As long as you have the human element, it is bound to be subjective some way, starting from which issue/topic they decide to cover. I also understand the influence of money, i.e., advertising/sponsorship.

They are all bound to be subjective to some extent, thats why I underlined most in 'the most objective' in my original thread.