Is it truly possible to have a non-biased media?

My own view is that it isn't possible to be unbiased but some sources have higher journalistic standards and integrity. All media and all language carries values and assumptions within it, often unacknowledged and sometimes at a subconscious level. However, not all media is the same. Some tell outright lies and some insinuate things which the readership are intended to take as fact. If I don't trust a source then I read through to find the quotes and the verified details.

I have confirmation bias too and everyone does, though I think it is a healthy thing if you can be critical of friends and allies from time to time.

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MistyCee

I think you're right, and I'm a big fan of freedom of the press conference and don't think the govt should be able to yank the licenses of stations that portray it unfavorably.

However, I'd support some sort of industry based system for discriminating between those that actually try and report accurately and those who publish political propaganda and call it news.

I'm glad you have time to check every article for sources, but most people don't, including myself.

Instead, I'm falling prey to the trap of seeing if a story gets repeated by what I consider to be a reputable news outlet and assuming if it isn't, it's Fake News.

Sadly, I realize that a large portion of the population now does the same thing, just with different ideas of what is reputable.

We need standards, I think, or were forever going to be stuck with the idea that Alternate facts aren't falsehoods.

jackjjackson · 61-69, M

@MistyCee

John Oliver on HBO is funny as hell in matter what ones politics if one is intellectually honest. Oliver is a cleverly contrived exaggeration of opinion “news” ( not really news only opinion but THEY try to foist it off as news ).

Oliver follows in the footsteps of Bill Mahar who is also funny as hell.

Opinion is more than OK whether one agrees with the opinion expressed of not. That’s why there is protected free speech. We can’t depend on Big Brother to tell us what is opinion. It’s our responsibility.

In today’s climate the sensible approach is to assume the EVERYTHING is opinion until proved otherwise to your satisfaction. If one doesn’t or can’t or won’t do that then shame in them. That type isn’t likely to make the effort to register much less vote anyways.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@MistyCee I don't have time to check articles for sources LOL. During the Labour leadership contests here, I did that because I had good reasons not to trust what I was reading. Normally no.

What I mean is [i]you should check how you read a news source[/i]. Are there quotes? Is there evidence? Are certain things being insinuated beyond the facts?

jackjjackson · 61-69, M

@Burnley123

Excellent point. Innuendo is a deadlier tool that fact often times.