On: The NYPD Is Using Mobile X-Ray Vans to Spy on Unkn...

[johncolanduoni]

I think he meant social commentators in academia/think tanks, not anchors at news stations.

> For a social commentator to speak out against the government on a major news outlet would be a ratings disaster.

What do you see them constantly doing when it comes to police brutality? And for the federal level, have you watched Fox News while we've had a Democrat president or MSNBC while we've had a Republican one? Gratuitously negative in both cases.

There is certainly tons of bias at all the popular news outlets, but it's very different from the bias of state owned news agencies.

[beeboop → johncolanduoni]

The problem is that both sides of the political spectrum are in favor on the problems being discussed here. Very few congress members are against the NSA spy program/NSLs/secrete courts/etc. They will bash republicans for being pro-life, but they won't bash them for being pro-NSA (generally speaking).

Also, even amonst the academics, the only ones that make it on air the vast majority of the time (and are placed in a positive context within the programming) are the ones conforming to what the media wants. Ask anyone who's ever been on "the list" for expert interviews on television. They call you up and say "would you be willing to go on air and defend this position?". If no, they hang up and try the next person. The opinions broadcasted on American television are as scripted as any other TV show. Through this process they create what the socially accepted norm is, and even if the majority disagree, they become the "fringe" because their opinions are not as well represented.