Media Bias In Politics Essay

Media bias is dividing this country and is having a devastating effect on politics. When a country is, divided issues cannot be resolved quickly and correctly. Although there are many influences on politics, researchers have shown a link between media bias and political outcome. The media bias is a key factor in the United States involvement in humanitarianism and political sanctions. When the media reports on an issue, the public becomes aware of the issue and pressures governments into action. “We find strong evidence in support of our hypothesis that media attention to human rights abuse in a given state is associated with a higher likelihood that the United States threatens the state with sanctions.” (Peksen, Peterson, and Drury 860). The likely reason behind the United States involvement in foreign affairs is the publics knowledge. If the government did not respond to any human rights issues, the elected officials would not be reelected. However, media influence is not the only factor in the United States response to foreign affairs. There are many factors involved in government response. If the response can
This has the effect of increasing partisan politics. Partisan politics are dividing our country instead of uniting. “In Partisan elections, the most powerful cue provided by the political environment is the candidate’s membership in a political party.” (Rahn, 472-496). This has the effect of potentially electing unqualified members to positions of power. When the media isn’t trusted, voters will vote based of the political party and not the individual. “I predict that partisan voting will be greater among those who distrust the media. An analysis of 2004 presidential voting is consistent with this prediction.” (Ladd,581). The study illustrates that media influence can have negative effects on the political process. It is important to understand the media’s