Media Bias [Merged]

[Nemo888]

They do need to open their books. You can't take the public nickle and not disclose. As far as bias though the real manipulators of public opinion should be the ones we are looking at. Journalists and politicians do not shape public opinion. They do what they are told.  Even the army does it. We frame everything we feed the press. Obviously we are not the only ones, not even in the top ten.

 

[GAP]

we need a backpedalling icon...... :

 

[Fishbone Jones]

we need a backpedalling icon...... :

It under [more] in the smilie menu.

:backpedalling:

 

[lethalLemon]

Yes, the CBC leftist bias angers me and frustrates me as - like many have said - if $1.1 billion in tax payer's money is going into the CBC, but they're pumping out crap by the bucket loads, claim to be "proudly using every penny in order to appeal to all Canadian's coast to coast to coast", yet when asked for the budgetary documents and fund allocation documents they suddenly say: "NO! IT'S NOT ALLOWED! ONLY A JUDGE CAN ORDER THOSE RELEASED!"

I do believe however, (just as a disclaimer: I could be wrong), that because they are publicly funded it should be law that they MUST release those financial/budgetary and spending documents to the public when requested. For Mr. President to go and rebuttal with "the public is not allowed to see them without ruling from Justice of the Peace" is an OUTRAGE!

I pay for the CBC to keep running (although it is a minuscule fraction), I should be allowed to know where they are spending that money. If they keep blowing it on Limos, dinner parties, and alcohol... then their budget should be significantly slashed and put to better use elsewhere in this country and be forced to actually use their significantly smaller allotment of money to IMPROVE themselves - as CBC - as a whole. Maybe if they actually do it, they can have a small portion of the previous $1.1B back, but not until there is drastic change.

Am I being unreasonable?

 

[FlyingDutchman]

I want to see another news industry do a report on the fact cbc does not want people to see those documents.

 

[Nemo888]

I must admit I still believe in democratic liberalism*, in my romantic mind the CBC should represent the voice of liberalism and social justice free of corporate influence. The CBC is supposed to be the fourth estate in a functioning democracy. But I don’t think they are. The best word to define the CBC now is insignificant. They don’t really give enough value for the 30$ per person we pay. But even though I consider them a Canadian Institution I cannot defend them. They are inane and irrelevant. Make them get funding like NPR in the states with matching funds from the government. This makes me sad. Not really about the death of the CBC, but the death of liberalism. Liberalism's greatest supporters were journalists, religious movements with social agendas, universities, artists, politicians and unions. They forgot why they were fighting, got greedy and took their power and privilege for granted. Now they are irrelevant and worthy of ridicule. Living wages, health care, universal education, women’s rights, and generally being a social safety valve that enabled incremental social change without revolution. They were a pillar of our society’s greatness, now they are part of the problem.

*”Liberalism’s four principle features, or perspectives, which give it a recognizable
identity: it is individualist, in that it asserts the moral primacy of the
person against any collectivity; egalitarian, in that it confers on all
human beings the same basic moral status; universalist, affirming the
moral unity of the species; and meliorist, in that it asserts the open ended
improvability, by use of critical reason, of human life” John Gray

 

[Edward Campbell]

I must admit I still believe in democratic liberalism*, in my romantic mind the CBC should represent the voice of liberalism and social justice free of corporate influence. The CBC is supposed to be the fifth estate in a functioning democracy. But I don’t think they are. The best word to define the CBC now is insignificant. They don’t really give enough value for the 30$ per person we pay. But even though I consider them a Canadian Institution I cannot defend them. They are inane and irrelevant. Make them get funding like NPR in the states with matching funds from the government. This makes me sad. Not really about the death of the CBC, but the death of liberalism. Liberalism's greatest supporters were journalists, religious movements with social agendas, universities, artists, politicians and unions. They forgot why they were fighting, got greedy and took their power and privilege for granted. Now they are irrelevant and worthy of ridicule. Living wages, health care, universal education, women’s rights, and generally being a social safety valve that enabled incremental social change without revolution. They were a pillar of our society’s greatness, now they are part of the problem.

*”Liberalism’s four principle features, or perspectives, which give it a recognizable
identity: it is individualist, in that it asserts the moral primacy of the
person against any collectivity; egalitarian, in that it confers on all
human beings the same basic moral status; universalist, affirming the
moral unity of the species; and meliorist, in that it asserts the open ended
improvability, by use of critical reason, of human life” John Gray

Gray is fine, but the liberalism espoused by the CBC, the NDP and a very large slice of the Liberal Party of Canada is collectivist, elitist in supporting e.g. the "arts" over commerce and business, narrowly nationalist in its anti-American and anti-capitalist leanings, and, essentially, appears to believe that human progress and change are always for the worse.

Thus, the CBC, like the NDP and the LPC is is resoundingly conservative, and not conservative in the Edmund Burks sense but rather conservative in the sense John Stuart Mill (a real liberal) meant when he said: "Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives."  The CBC, in its narrow, elitist, collectivist world view is stupidly conservative in wishing to stop change, even, maybe especially, change for the better because the status quo is comfortable and change upsets apple carts.

 

[Good2Golf]

Mr. Campbell, yes, it is unfortunate that many (most?) believe that any party with the word 'liberal' in or associated with its name, is a supporter of Classic liberalism, which as you noted, is perhaps best (or certainly well) described by Mills, i.e. minimal interference of personal rights, and when done, primarily for protection of society at large.  Hmmm....what does that sound like...small government, protective measures for the whole?  Why, could it be that the CPC actually espouses greater support for liberalism than does the LPC which would by past record, wish to take more of your money and distribute it not only to those truly in need (in pure socialism) but to those who through leveraging the perception that they are the keepers of the very freedom many hold dear, distribute such wealth uncontested to agencies whose agendas match those in power?  Hiding (actually, carefully camouflaged is more accurate) behind the idea of responsible and generous support equally to all elements of society (Social liberalism) might be seen a perversion of Marxism -- Karl Marx may have truly believed that capitalism was what gave the bourgeoisie the power over the proletariat, but in Canada, the bourgeoisie has, particularly under Liberal governance, been sated not by the inherent characteristics of a market/consumer-driven Capitalist system, but a political elite using the cape of social responsibility and support (the stated basis for Social liberalism) to mask the distribution of both the people's (partial) wealth (i.e. taxes) and their democratic capital to those agents or groups who will "for the good of the people" spend their money in a clearly disproportionate manner.  Some (many?) may make the case that Canadian "L"iberals stopped being social liberalists somewhere between Pearson and Trudeau and morphed into a socio-capitalist bourgeoisie group wanting to appear socially liberal on the outside, yet enjoying the ability to divert large quantities of the proletariat taxpayers' money to organizations (such as the CBC) or companies (say, Bombarier, that received $0.1 Billion for a couple of unsold Challenger jets, on PM Chretien's order) that toe the line with those who dole out distribute in a fair and equitable and fully-representative manner the hard-earned cash of the taxpayers.

I'd more comfortable if the CBC actually had sub-divisions that were each responsible for a particular bias (socialist, capitalist,  fundamentalist, etc...) that were then presented en masse.  Then there would at least be some semblance of real egalitarian representation, not 1.1B (okay, take .2B well spent for Radio 1) going to a particular slant supporting substantively a single group's 'socialist and beyond' agenda.

:2c:

Regards
G2G

 

[Edward Campbell]

Not really news, I suppose, but the Liberals cry "hands Off the CBC," according to this article reproduced under the Fair Dealing provisions of the Copyright Act from the Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberals-defend-vital-cbc-funding/article2200319/

Liberals defend ‘vital’ CBC funding

JENNIFER DITCHBURN
Ottawa— Globe and Mail Update

Published Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011

The federal Liberals are trying to tap a well of potential support by positioning themselves as defenders of the CBC.

Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae sent out a letter on Thursday announcing a campaign and online petition called “Hands Off our CBC.” People on the party distribution list are asked to tweet about the petition or post it to their Facebook page.

Mr. Rae warned in his letter that the Conservatives are using the CBC, “as a scapegoat in the midst of Canada's current economic difficulties.”

“We need to send them a strong message: CBC funding didn't cause your Conservative deficit; so don't try to fix that problem on the back of the CBC!

“The Liberal Party of Canada recognizes the profound importance of the CBC's role in our society. We will fight to ensure our national broadcaster receives the support and resources it needs to continue to do its vital job.”

The Conservatives are also using the CBC as a wedge issue with supporters, but in an entirely different way. The public broadcaster is unpopular among some in the party's base and the head of the Tory fundraising arm recently sent out a letter asking for opinions on whether Canadians were getting good or bad value from the CBC.

Some Tory MPs are openly proposing to strip the Crown corporation of its $1.1-billion in government funding. At the same time, Conservative MPs on a Commons committee are scrutinizing the broadcaster over access to information.

The Liberal petition page claims that Heritage Minister James Moore is breaking a promise not to cut the CBC and has announced it will lose 10 per cent of its budget.

In fact, no announcement has yet been made on how much the CBC will have to trim. The broadcaster, like all other government departments and agencies, was ordered to offer proposals for cuts of five and 10 per cent as part of a general cost-reduction exercise.

The Conservatives have had great success in using hot-button issues as a lure for financial donations. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's support for Israel, the threat of unwanted elections brought on by a meddlesome opposition and the spectre of a Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition have all been used as themes for soliciting contributions.

The Liberals have struggled to bring their fundraising machine up to par with the Tories. Mr. Rae's letter on the CBC didn't include a plea for money, however.

I doubt this will concern the Tories; something like 8% of Canadians watch/listen to the CBC on a regular basis (i.e. that watch something other than Hockey Night in Canada); some of them already vote Conservative, those who don't are unlikely to change their minds. We will  now see who gets more favourable treatment from the CBC: the Liberals or the Dippers.

 

[Rifleman62]

Jennifer is the typical Cdn media b person. No disclosure for her.

Just Google it

The Globe and Mail is full of ....

 

[a_majoor]

The government is searching for $4 billion/year in savings; they can double that instantly by eliminating ALL crown corporations (which have a combined budget of $8 billion/year according the the last figures I have, dating from 2008).

The arguments for the CBC in a 500 channel and infinite internet univers are not very compelling against to the global bond market's view of the overall financial picture of the nation.....

 

[Neill McKay]

something like 8% of Canadians watch/listen to the CBC on a regular basis (i.e. that watch something other than Hockey Night in Canada)

I find that number hard to believe.  I would have thought that that Radio alone would exceed that.

The government is searching for $4 billion/year in savings; they can double that instantly by eliminating ALL crown corporations (which have a combined budget of $8 billion/year according the the last figures I have, dating from 2008).

Do you imagine that there are no crown corporations doing useful work?

 

[Good2Golf]

I find that number hard to believe.  I would have thought that that Radio alone would exceed that...

2,800,000 daily viewers/listeners is hard to believe?

 

[Edward Campbell]

I find that number hard to believe.  I would have thought that that Radio alone would exceed that.
...

Try this source from 2009:

"CBC television’s audience share is up 30 per cent since hitting a low point in 2002, Kirstine Layfield said in a note to staff to staff on Tuesday.

CBC TV’s current regular season prime time audience share now stands at 8.9 per cent – up from 6.7 per cent in the 2002/2003 season."

That's it's prime time share - probably lower in off-peak hours.

 

[Edward Campbell]

I find that number hard to believe.  I would have thought that that Radio alone would exceed that.
...

Or this: http://www2.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=5528272

-- 9.3 % - CBC prime-time audience share, English Canada
-- 20 % - Radio-Canada prime-time audience share, French Canada

9.3% of 75% of Canadians equals about 7% of all Canadians who watch the CBC English service
20% of 20% of all Canadians = about 4% of all Canadians who watch the French service

 

[Neill McKay]

Both of those refer only to TV, and only to prime time.  What you said originally was that only "something like 8% of Canadians watch/listen to the CBC on a regular basis".  That's not at all the same thing, is it?

 

[Good2Golf]

...if you look hard enough, you may find some pepper in there...

 

[Edward Campbell]

Both of those refer only to TV, and only to prime time.  What you said originally was that only "something like 8% of Canadians watch/listen to the CBC on a regular basis".  That's not at all the same thing, is it?

<yawn>

The equivalent CRC radio numbers are <15% for CBC Radio English services and <20% for CBC Radio in French that's 15% of 75% (12% of all Canadians) and 20% of 20% (4% of all Canadians) and since I don't argue that CBC Radio should be sold off I hardly think the point is important, but ...

You could look this sh!t up for yourself you know; you're not bloody helpless, are you?

__________
(Sorry, Mods, I suppose I should apologize for this personal attack, but WTF, over?)

 

[jollyjacktar]

<yawn>

The equivalent CRC radio numbers are <15% for CBC Radio English services and <20% for CBC Radio in French that's 15% of 75% (12% of all Canadians) and 20% of 20% (4% of all Canadians) and since I don't argue that CBC Radio should be sold off I hardly think the point is important, but ...

You could look this sh!t up for yourself you know; you're not bloody helpless, are you?

__________
(Sorry, Mods, I suppose I should apologize for this personal attack, but WTF, over?)

Neil, let me help you with your data collection.  Ahem.... my name is jollyjacktar and I listen to CBC (English) radio as my primary source of listening activty whilst driving to and from work.  There, that should help.  Only 14.99999999% of the others out there need to come forward and confess.

 

[Neill McKay]

.