The press is not objective; an overwhelming majority of the public believes that the press presents news from a biased viewpoint and in an unbalanced manner.One of the most enduring criticisms of the press since the early 1970s has been that members of the media are liberally biased.
I believe that there is a growing tendency among media professionals to exaggerate negative news such as violent crime, to intrude upon people's privacy and to dwell in sensationalism.
The press has a public responsibility to report the news fairly and objectively.
Even Thomas Jefferson, who helped pen the guarantee of a free press contained in the Constitution, grew sharply critical of the press over his lifetime.
The forerunner of today's sensationalistic tabloid press, yellow journalism focused on gossip and exaggerated and shocking news accounts of crime and political scandal to attract readers.
The public must have the opportunity to hear a balanced presentation of both sides of an issue during disputes of public importance.
What can be done to address the public's apparent loss of faith in the trustworthiness and integrity of the press?
The public must begin to demand better news coverage or threaten to get their news somewhere else or the public will simply tune out.
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