Mainstream vs Independent media coverage of Barack Obama

Mainstream v . Independent Media Coverage of Barack Obama

Media coverage of Barack Obama 's presidential campaign underscores the differences between mainstream media and independent media outlets , also known as "the new media . Obama is a political newcomer that represents new ideas and a change in direction , characteristics that make him very similar to the owners of independent media outlets and the bloggers that provide much of their content . His opponent , Hillary Clinton , who somehow manages to tout having 15 years of experience while simultaneously calling herself an agent of change , is the

br personification of institutional politics and the need of institutions to preserve the status quo . It is little wonder , then , that Clinton would be endorsed by such a venerable institution as The New York Times "Primary Choices : Hillary Clinton ) and other mainstream newss Although independent media and new media (i .e , Internet blogs ) have many issues to address , they are already providing better coverage of the 2008 election and of the Obama campaign than their mainstream counterparts

Critics of independent media may argue that it lacks the instant response time of television "Good coverage , however , does not necessarily mean being the first to report a story . In a democracy "good coverage " of any person or event may be defined as media coverage that provides factually accurate information , promotes healthy discussion and debate , presents a variety of responsible perspectives and does not oversimplify complex issues . Based on this definition , it must be said that most mainstream media organizations , e .g , major newss , magazines , and other corporate media outlets , do not provide quality news coverage . Instead , they provide a digest of the news that is packaged to accommodate their political and ideological agendas

It is true that mainstream media outlets have better quality control than Internet blogs and other independent media sources . For the most part , mainstream media outlets get the facts straight . In fact , errors are so rare that when a mainstream news like The New York Times or a television news program is caught reporting false information , the error often becomes a major news story in its own right . Getting the facts correct , however , is only one part of the overall news equation While independent media sources promote discussion , mainstream media seeks to control or even to stifle debate . While independent media presents a variety of perspectives of all political persuasions mainstream media , despite the seemingly large number of media outlets is controlled , for the most part , by only six corporations (StopBigMedia .com , all of which have a vested interest in presenting the facts in a light that favors their commercial and /or political interests . This is not to say that independent news sources do not spin the facts to suit their political or ideological agendas . Independent media sources are vigorously partisan , highly biased , and extremely dogmatic . However , unlike their counterparts in the mainstream media who portray themselves as fair and impartial providers of information independent news sources openly admit their biases and agendas and use this to their...