bias... hmmm....

This week, I thought a lot about liberal bias in the media. I have to admit, I didn't really even understand what that meant. I have heard Glenn Beck refer to himself a conservative, and from what I can tell, he's not well liked within media circles. I also realized that I didn't even really understand the difference between liberal and conservative beliefs.

I started digging to understand what a liberal bias in the media might mean for me. I found this article, which reported on a study done on journalists to determine if the claim of liberal bias was in fact correct. I also brushed up my knowledge on liberal and conservative positions on issues with a number of articles, and completed a number of quizzes that labelled me a liberal! I guess I had better change that on my Facebook profile.

Now I'm thinking about whether it matters to me or not. If someone is going to "tell me what to think about," I'd rather it be someone who is more moderate than extreme. If it's going to be extreme, I'd rather be more focused on what's best for everyone than on individual freedoms, and I'd rather focus on global issues, like the environment, than keeping corporations happy and profitable. I'd rather take care of those who need help, than spend a lot of time discussing how their problems are a result of their own choices.

opening my eyes...

Jaigris’ discussion about theory gave me a much-needed wake-up call at this almost mid-point of our program.

The message was “Thanks for showing up to Comm 365, Karen. I’m going to hit you between the eyes right out of the gate, because if you change the way you think, you can change the world.” I know, I know – that’s an idealist talking. But really, as a prospective professional communicator, I will limit my potential success if I ignore theory, or take it in without engaging with it, and integrating it into my own understanding of the world. Thus begins a journey, one that will shape the way that I think about culture, about my chosen profession, and about people in general.

Originally, I bucked the idea that I need de-programming about media and culture, but it didn’t take long for me to find truth in that idea. All of my thoughts have not necessarily been the fruit of a struggle to claim them as my own. The time has come for me to stop allowing others to tell me what to think, regardless of how notable and recognized their opinions are.

Enter the fascinating world of public relations and propaganda.