Private Media Bias

In today’s society it is impossible to create a unique idea completely free of outside influence. Everything a person encounters and acknowledges influences how they think and perceive the world. One of the biggest factors that influence our thoughts and opinions on the world is the media. The media and its biases have infiltrated every aspect of a person’s life. Whether it be through the Internet, the television, the newspaper, or some other form, everyone is exposed to the mass media and thus, its biases. These biases, mostly politically oriented, have become a major problem in news outlets throughout the world, and often arise from the need to satisfy the investors of these private media outlets. This has led to the question of whether it …show more content…
In theory, the use of government funds eliminates the reliance on private investors, thus encouraging more accurate, unbiased news. However, this plan does have its critics. A government monopoly on the media would result in a limitation of freedom of speech and the government-run media sources would act as propaganda to control the citizens. Ultimately, while often intended to limit bias, history shows that government-run media organizations serve to limit freedom of speech and have drawbacks including the ability of the government to censor the information it distributes. To examine the benefits and drawbacks of public vs. private media it is necessary to define what each entails. Public, government-run media organizations are …show more content…
The African country of Nigeria serves as an excellent example of how a government can control its people through the media. Nigeria, a country that is struggling economically, has state-run media outlets and even these are subject to restrictions on journalists. In 2013, those restrictions were tightened as the government further limited the extent of the media and the freedom of press. The National Broadcasting Commission, Nigeria’s media regulator, slammed two government radio stations with massive fines after one caller on a radio show complained about the government (Emmanuel). This speech was considered to be slanderous, as it was, “likely to incite or encourage public disorder and undermine national security” (Emmanuel). Nigeria is a perfect example of how government-run media organizations become government censorship programs that limit one’s ability to speak freely and express themselves. Furthermore, the primary support for government-run media organizations is derived from the idea that it would eliminate the bias that is prevalent in much of the media today. These people are correct in their observation regarding the bias, and the prevalence that it has in the media. However, this does not necessarily call for abolition of private media organizations and the