Bias in broadcast: Anti-gun stories overwhelm pro-gun stories 8 to 1

     I recently read a Washington Times article entitled "Bias in broadcast: Anti-gun stories overwhelm pro-gun stories 8 to 1," by Jennifer Harper. The main idea of the text is that there is a bias in the media; only 1 out of eight stories about gun control are pro-guns. Apparantly, the media used the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary to advertise gun restricting laws." 'The networks quickly moved to exploit the tragedy to push for more gun control legislation while mostly ignoring solutions that respect gun owners' Second Amendment rights,' says analyst Geoffrey Dickens." Three news stations, ABC, NBC, and CBS, were tested for their story topics, and, according to the article, CBS is the worst in terms of including articles against gun control. CBS accordingly had a 22:1 ratio of stories. The author keeps reinforcing mainly the same idea; that the media is biased on this issue.

     The author obviously wants us to feel sympathetic with his bias-- that the media is biased. He seems to think that it is horrible how a sad event is being "exploited." He wants us to feel angry and sad, and also quite indignated-- he does mention that we have the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. He uses quotes from professional people, but only people who agree with him, so as to ensure we will as well. He also quotes a kid on teachers having guns. "I like it, because it kind of makes me feel safer. Because, I mean, we don't have a police station here." He also uses some illiteration to spark up his piece ex. bias in broadcast. The author seems to be also cleverly choosing the websites tested-- they are noting the amount of anti- guns programming on left leaning programs-- I think his results would be much different if he replaced CBS with FOX.

     From this issue, I have not taken away much that the author wanted me to. I thought that it was poorly done to deliver an incredibly biased article berating other reporters for being biased. As a result, I am inclined not to agree with the man-- after all, what is the chance that people will be fighting for less gun control on lefty channels and after a horrible school shooting? I would in the future like to know more about the control laws passed-- and how politicions manage it without offending the Second Amendment.