Structural bias as theory…
Recently, a few academics have sent e-mail telling me they’ve linked to my Media/Political Bias page. I’m always happy when that happens. But those messages combined with a few instances of anti-bias ranting (of the ideological kind) in the news lately set me to thinking about a hole in my information.
I have completely neglected to mention–in specific terms–the academic reason why the structural biases are more important to consider than ideological bias: The structural biases constitute theories (inchoate as a single theory) of news coverage.
Theories tell us why things happen. Further, a theory allows us to predict outcomes and behavior. Simply put, assertions of ideological bias do neither, and that is the biggest reason why such ranting is largely a political exercise. Pointing out ideological bias (and we can find all kinds of examples from every wing) has far more to do with ideological struggle than coming to an understanding what’s going on. For that you need a theory.
So, I need to correct this omission on my bias page. Here’s a draft:
Structural Bias as Theory
I have asserted that some critics of the press think of it as speaking with a unified voice with a distinct ideological bias. I have further asserted that this simplistic thinking fits the needs of ideological struggle, but is hardly useful in coming to a better understanding of what is happening in the world. For that better understanding we need a theory.
A theory offers us a model that tells us why things happen as they do. Further, a theory allows us to predict outcomes and behavior. Assertions of ideological bias do neither. While we can expect the press to demonstrate ideological biases in regard to certain issues or other localized phenomena, these and other behaviors are explained and predicted by the structural biases. Since the press sometimes demonstrates a conservative bias, asserting that the press is liberal neither predicts nor explains. Since the press sometimes demonstrates a liberal bias, asserting that the press is conservative neither predicts nor explains.
Test this for yourself. Choose a situation that is current–preferably breaking right now. For each of the structural biases listed above, write down what you would expect the press to do based on that bias. Then, complete the exercise with a concluding statement that takes into account as many of the structural biases as possible. Now, follow the situation for a few days and note how the press behaves. I think you will find that you have successfully predicted press behavior.
Okay, I’m thinking of adding this section after my list of biases. The third paragraph is a bit pedantic, but it seems my bias page gets a lot of attention from academics, school groups, home-schoolers, and others in education. So, I need to keep this important audience in mind.
