News-Record.com

Interesting topic for debate.

Paying someone public funds to monitor programs for possible political bias is a bad idea.

But this whole debate points to the problem of using public money for "news" programs. Same as publicly funded art. Everyone who pays taxes is entitled to complain.

We don't agree about this, Allen, but my impression from listening to Tavis Smiley's radio program occasionally was that it took a decided turn to the left in the weeks leading up to last year's election. At least when I was tuned in, it seems to me that most of the political discussions were decidedly pro-Democrat, anti-Republican. Of course, I didn't "monitor" the program, so I'm only offering impressions. But if I'm right, that was inappropriate for a program on public radio.

I'm an avid NPR listener, but honestly, some of its programs, if not all, probably should be on commercial radio.

First off: at least 90% of the radio I listen to is NPR. I love NPR. But I don't think NPR reflects the politics of the "Nation." Commercial radio regularly reports the demographics of its listeners - for the benefit of its advertisers; but NPR doesn't need to. Their listeners are not identified. But one can guess. Here goes: 95% White, 98% One or more degrees, 85% Democrat, 95% Liberal. So all NPR does, is "program" to please its listeners. That's how they stay in business. That's how they raise so much money.

I wake up every morning to NPR before I switch to Brad and Britt on the way to work (also a slight lean to the Left, but smart). NPR does have an obvious Left-leaning bias. It's usually 2 to 3 negative stories or comments against the Right to every one positive story. It's similar to most news bias- you state the position of the Right, then have a moderate and/or liberal give the counterposition.
Example: President Bush said "X", now here to discuss it is Liberal 1 and Moderate 1. The critics always get more time to explain their arguments as opposed to a mere restatement of what the Right leaning person said.
As far as Tavis Smiley goes, he is an excellent journalist and is very though provoking. However, at times he does seem visibly/auditorially angry about Republican/conservative policies. This is his prerogative, but he should make it known where he stands. Critics of the liberal media would not be nearly as upset if the liberal media would simply admit where they are coming from instead of trying to appear objective.
Rush Limbaugh is extremely biased- but he constantly admits it. He doesn't claim to be objective. Neither does Al Franken. Of course, they are really personalities as opposed to a journalist like Tavis. Anyone who watches Tavis knows that he is much tougher on the Right than he is on the Left.

Regarding NPR demographics, I found this link:
http://www.wuot.org/h/underwriting/demographics.html

Not suprising, NPR listeners are 124% more likely to be liberal than the general population. This was from NPR's own research.

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