Introduce, Discuss and Analyze Abortion and the Media
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of abortion and the media. Specifically it will discuss media coverage of abortion issues and the liberal bent of most American media. Abortion is a contentious issue in America today. The American media often adds fuel to this fire by portraying liberal views toward abortion in subtle ways. Much of the American media supports abortion and that feeling comes through in their reporting. Thus, the American media presents bias in reporting abortion issues and makes those who oppose abortion seem somehow wrong or misguided.More and more, there seems to be less journalistic judgment and more bias in American media coverage. The media are becoming "friendlier," and they seem to want to befriend and nurture Americans while reporting the news. They are becoming far less objective in much of their coverage, as well. View the three major television networks and the viewer will see vastly different reporting styles and coverage, and differences in outlook too. Some stations are much more sensationalized than others are, and most seem to take a liberal slant to their stories. This often makes reporting on contentious issues take on the political views of the
Thus, what might appear subtle on one evening news broadcast is really prevalent throughout the American media, and it colors much American thought on abortion. There are no exceptions for rape, no exceptions for incest, no exceptions for fetal deformity. One of the most contentious issues in America is abortion, and much of the American media is liberally supportive of this practice, and that is quite obvious in their reporting of the issue. Thus, most of the information Americans receive on abortion is from the news media, and much of that media is decidedly liberal and pro-abortion. Many people feel the media allow their own feelings and bias to color stories, even if they are expected to remain impartial, especially toward contentious issues. reporter or station owners, rather than reporting a balanced view on the issues. Another media expert writes, "The study found that network reporters used positive labels in 97 percent of all descriptions of abortion supporters but only 21 per cent of descriptions of abortion opponents" (Smith, 1993). William Randolph Hearst used "yellow journalism" to stir up public support on contentious issues, but the practice was decried at the time. For example, ABC World News recently covered a very contentious abortion bill on the November South Dakota ballot. It is bias presented as truth, the reporter's view presented as a factual account. The real bias comes when a reporter fails to acknowledge his values and viewpoints" (Abrams, 2001, p. Media expert Elliott Abrams writes, "In the United States, for example, it is sometimes environmentalism, gun control, or abortion rights. One media expert writes, "I would answer, in part, that what we fear in the media is not, above all, bias but hidden bias.
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