The role that the media plays in a healthy democracy is a vital one. It keeps the voters informed of various issues that it needs to know in order to make an informed decision. It seeks out corruption and exposes it. And it holds those in power accountable.
Without a strong, functioning media, democracy is not possible.
However, there are several ways in which the media itself can be corrupted or does not serve the interests of the populace.
One way is for a media outlet to become ideologically biased. If stories praising one side and attacking the other are the only ones featured, then journalists are only doing half their job. This is a common complaint today. The right has outlets biased toward them, and so do the left.
Another way is for an owner to become too involved, killing stories about friends, and creating stories about enemies. It concentrates a tremendous amount of power in a human being, one who can be flawed or corrupted.
If a newspaper, TV network, or website depends on advertising to exist, that can create a conflict of interest. If a news story arises that is critical of a sponsor, it may be softened or even shelved altogether. Or to attract readers to ads, media sources can publish content that may be suggestive or even misleading.
Journalists have a difficult job, having to speak the truth against powerful forces, while often facing budget cuts or forces that seek to handicap them in order to protect themselves.
Are there news sources you trust? How do you evaluate media sources for trustworthiness? How can we strengthen the good ones?
Related questions: How do you know who to trust? Should we pay attention to the news? How does media manipulate you?
Media bias can be concerning. However, what bias is is a matter of debate. Sure, when journalists report on the news, they should strive for factual reporting and objective analysis of a situation. However, I would argue that reporting from a “center” vantage point between two or more ideological poles should also be considered biased. It is also a choice of how to perceive reality. The truth is not measured by where it sits between ideological viewpoints. The truth is the truth. Opinions (biased by definition) are valuable considerations when considering what to do about that truth.
So, do I trust the media? I can only say that I trust my media sources. But that means I should consider the lens they usually use to report on reality. For instance, The New York Times is considered liberal (in most, but not all, cases), whereas The Atlantic’s articles have opinion writers who span the ideological spectrum. As long as I know this, I can read biased opinion pieces and trust the information is coming to me through a particular lens. Bias is not necessarily bad. It just needs to be known or acknowledged.
That said, when either the news or opinion pieces repeat lies without acknowledging them as such, then bias is a severe issue.