DISQUS

JuicyandScrappy · 12 months ago

How you can chastise the 'commentary' prime-time on MSNBC and claim CNN is giving an unbiased news report is beyond my comprehension. MSNBC is silly. CNN is insidious.

DRH · 12 months ago

Hmm.... where does he say CNN is without "bias"? His point is that CNN is reporting news, MSNBC is not

Sabrina · 12 months ago

Good post sir, you raise some good points.

I watch MSNBC, CNN, C-Span and PBS. I'm always switching around but from 8 to 10, I watch Keith and Rachel. I used to watch Chris 2 years ago but him talking over guests is such a chore, I can't sit through it anymore. He's good because I think he has passion for what he talks about but just doesn't have the patience.

Now, that being said I'd like to say that I certainly believe that most people who watch these shows KNOW these are not 'news broadcasts', these are news 'commentaries'. The anchors of these shows admit they are commentary shows, they do not try to mask their shows as un-opinionated nor does MSNBC try to present itself as 'Fair and Balanced' like Fox News says. I *know* when I watch Keith Olbermann, he's giving me his VIEW on today's news. He's not giving me just the NEWS. I know that If I just want straight reporting, I can watch Anderson Copper, or Katie Couric. Most people know that.

I think that is the issue I had with your post, none of these shows are NEWS SHOWS, like nightly news with Brian Williams. These are purely commentary shows, so they will have an opinion. Whether such shows should even exist, is debatable and a fair argument but these aren't news shows and Keith, Chris and Rachel are not journalists nor have they ever said they are.

If you watch MSNBC before 6pm...you will get straight reporting, no opinions at all just like you see on CNN. Then, from 6pm to 10 (the rest are repeat broadcasts) MSNBC airs their nightly COMMENTARY SHOWS. So, I don't think its fair to just say, MSNBC is all about opinions. They have regular broadcasts during the day and on weekends. Plus, CNN has opinion shows as well. One show is called "No Bais, no Bull with Campbell Brown". She gives her opinion too. So, its not just MSNBC who has opinion shows. Fox and CNN have opinion shows as well. Again, whether these shows should exist or not, its debatable but they aren't standard news shows and everyone realizes that when they watch them.

So, just wanted to point all that out.

Tripton · 12 months ago

Please let me know where it is said that Olbermann, Matthews, Maddow, or even Hannity or O'Reilly are news? Olbermann and Matthews hosted two of 16 presidential debates and they kinda "hosted' MSNBC's coverage of the conventions. But let's not refer to their nightly shows as news. Certainly MSNBC doesn't do so. It's not even a blurred line. And I have never seen Matthews as a comedian. Hardly. His lack of humor is his short stick.

ama2002 · 12 months ago

I don't think Sabrina & Tripton get what Steinman is most worried about. Steinman is worried like I am that a news company, in this case MSNBC but all the others are guilty as well, ANNOINTS a candidate. With the American electorate as overwhelmingly ignorant as it is (85% do not believe in Evolution), the last thing we need the networks to do, is to tell them 'How They Should Vote"...............................

c · 12 months ago

Perhaps the more important question is: is there such a thing as news without opinion (subjectivity)? Even when we report 'just facts' -- how we select what facts to report on, whose perspective on those facts we use, what order to present those facts -- we still impose our (albeit subtle/invisible and perhaps all the more so dangerous) opinion/subjectivity. I do so appreciate those who openly express their biases.

Mslacat · 12 months ago

Why not talk about FOX News! Why won't you criticize FOX. You guy's are always more than willing to take on Olbermann and Madow, but by god you never have the guts to to take on FOX in any meaningful manner. When you turn on MSNBC you will get two or three left leaning shows, is that too much to ask in a sea of Limbaugh Beck, and the entire Fox network. It is easy to take on the left, show some guts take on Fox ...... OH yea you would not want to burn any possible bridges.

JuicyandScrappy · 12 months ago

Am I missing something? Limbaugh isn't on the Fox News Network. And please...several research projects since the election have proven that of all the networks, Fox was the MOST even-handed in its criticism. If you have a 'Fox' problem--defend it.

Barry Milyovsky · 12 months ago

'Does anyone care but me? The simple answer is, probably not." Is anyone more interested in your opinion than yourself? The answer is, probably not.

fanofgrendel · 12 months ago

Olbermann is a con artist.

Loud Talker · 12 months ago

MSNBC can't claim to be a news network because there are no actual news shows. The demographic that elected Obama is the same demo that grew up without this thing called the 'evening news.' Unfortunately, much of the public gets its 'information' from MSNBC and CNN, both of these networks are shameful in their bias. Fox has several shows during the day that report the actual news. An evening show (The Fox Report with d also offers news). The BBC offers a fresh perspective as well. But again, too many Americans get their news from loud talkers like Olbermann and Matthews, and both of these men are unabashed liberals.

While I loved Olbermann on Sportscenter, he has gone off the deep end. Just once I would like to see him interview in person someone that he disagrees with, instead of inviting only people that sing the same tune as him. Glenn Beck is hated by the left, but he WELCOMES opposing viewpoints on his show regularly and is actually smart enough to do research. Matthews just shouts over those he disgrees with. If you are unwilling to air both sides (which FOX does), you are nothing but a yellow journalist

The closest thing we have to actual news is Headline News, but even it has become tricked up, unlike a few years ago when it was all news, all the time.

hinky · 12 months ago

The "New York Times" is credible? Who's really being the comedian, Ron?

Stacy · 12 months ago

I am just wondering where the news went on any channel.It's all rubbish, and not very informative. Wasn't it Pulitzer that said "a true journalist has no friends".

D.A. · 12 months ago

I happen to prefer Fox News over all the other Networks. Many people wrongly believe that Fair and Balanced means objective; it doesn't.

Fair and Balanced means that everyone is biased in one way or another, and knowing that, the journalist needs to give a fair assessment of the facts, and let the opposition be heard if you are to give an opinion.

Most people who hate Fox News never actually watch their News segments and think that Fox is nothing other than O'Reilly / Hannity 24/7. The fact of the matter is that their News is Fair and Balanced, but their appeal is that their commentators lean Right, unlike all other shows.

People watch Fox News because they know what they are getting: Fair and Balanced reporting. MSNBC, however, still calls Olbermann a News program.

Dave · 12 months ago

Slanted media outlets such as CNN, the NYTimes, and other DNC mouth piece entities are bloody awful... not for what they print or report.... but for what they REFUSE to even cover in the first place.

As someone who has worked at many liberal newspapers, I can attest definitively that editors CONSCIOUSLY refuse to even cover incidents or stories that make Democrats look bad.

It is sin by OMISSION... rather than COmission.

Which is actually the worst type of crime. It is like a county Prosecutor refusing to even investigate his favored buddies because in his or her mind, THEY could 'never' be involved in crime.

Mike · 12 months ago

MSNBC calls itself a "24 hours news channel". They need to change that to 12 hours news channel

Hmmmph · 12 months ago

Sometimes I watch MSNBC and I start laughing at just how biased this channel is. I really don't know what is going on with news these days. When an anchor brags about getting a chill up his leg about a candidate....I mean where do you go from there? Watching Olbermann during the Republican convention was as awkward as it gets. He wanted to pull his hair out after Palin's speech. I want someone to give me BOTH sides or not at all.

AB · 12 months ago

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!

Keith Olbermann drives me crazy. He even had the gall to say that Bush was making up Terrorist threats with NO PROOF.

Defending certain attacks while being almost a kiss ass to Obama. Coming up with a new Palin Scandal he even made a scandal over her WARDROBE!

No you are NOT alone in thinking that MSNBC is just an extension of the DNC.

Lee · 12 months ago

I cannot make myself watch MSNBC anymore. Chris Matthews and his tingle has forever tainted his being fair and he cannot allow his bias from coloring his commentary. Olbermann is, quite frankly, an idiot and I will not lower my IQ to watch him. As for Fox, there is an anchor there that I have no idea how he leans politically and that is as it should be. Kudos to Shep Smith for merely reporting the news and not allowing personal feelings to color his commentary. Also, Brit Hume is an excellent host who will be sorely missed. He was as fair as they come. He listened to his panel which was always equally divided and rarely let his views color whatever they were discussing. Also, back a few years, Tony Snow was another incredible reporter/commentator. As for their primetime, Hannity and Colmes are always balanced by guests ...always. O'Reilly will almost always have a guest with an opposing view or two if he can get them at the same time. He is an independent and I believe that. Half the time I agree with him, and the other half I want to throw something at him. And Greta is not a hard news show, she talks about current events and along with politics and I have no idea what party she belongs to because her personal leanings don't color her work. But I can tell you exactly how Judy Woodruff, Anderson Cooper, Brooke Anderson, Jane V Mitchell, Campbell Brown, Chris Matthews, Keith the idiot , Rachel Maddow, Wolf B, etc......Every single one of them are liberals and anyone with a brain can discern this. And, each and every one of them let their leanings color their words, actions, facial gestures etc during their programs. I watch all of the channels but the only one that is balanced with their guests and their news is Fox {excluding Fox and Friends, they are biased and I don't watch it}. Shep Smith is the best unbiased newsman on the air today.

Kdizzydaze · 12 months ago

Right On -

I would say in defense of Fox and Friends, given that the other options in the morning are GMA, Today Show, and CBS Morning News, they aren't so bad as all of them are biased.

Just throwing that in there. good stuff

Faux News · 11 months ago

"Hannity and Colmes are always balanced by guests ...always."
Ahhhhh hahahahahaahahahahahaha!!!! yeah right. you make me lol.

Shep Smith is definitely by far their best anchor. Never was a fan of the monotone bore that is Brit Hume, O'Rielly is a blowhard and shouts over anyone he disagrees with. I challenge you to search through some hannity and colmes videos on youtube and tell me they're balanced by their guests, mwaaa haha. I don't hate FOX news but trying to call them out as the last bastion of honest reporting is laughable.

Jane · 12 months ago

Thank you for this honest appraisal.

Jack · 12 months ago

There is a complete difference between Fox News and Oreilly/Hannity & Colmes. The former is a news program and the latter are commentary. The latter make no bones about it. Nevertheless, the latter always provide time for opposing views.

Mathews job is to support Obama. Olbermans job is even less objective. Neither provide time for opposing views. (Pat Buchanan, Andrew Sullivan are not conservatives. Like Kathleen Parker, they are media whores lacking basic morality and intellectual honesty.) They make me hope that there is a God, and that people are punished for their sins.

As for CNN, they have never met a terrorist they didn't like.

Mike · 12 months ago

Fox News "Always provide time for opposing views"???? You've got to be kidding me. They craft the opposing viewpoint to further support their side and make the opposition look foolish. Please don't tell me you fall for that.

Actually, Pat Buchanan, Andrew Sullivan and Kathleen Parker ARE conservatives. It is the big-government Bushes (and their enablers like Hannity) who have abandoned the Republican party.

CHat · 12 months ago

Do you think that maybe the reason the opposition looks foolish is because, once reason is applied, it actually IS foolish? Just sayin'.

Mike · 12 months ago

"reason" is not something you see on Fox News or MSNBC. If you watch the prime time Fox News shows and believe the liberal point of view is presented fairly, well, there's not much more to say to you.

Snoop-Diggity-DANG-Dawg · 12 months ago

Sweet be-jebus. What took you so long?

Red Half · 12 months ago

So, MSNBC has finally lost its persona of "News" to even fellow left leaning established media types that are attempting to be fair. Why even Saturday Night Live skewered "OldGirlMan" as being somewhat to the left of Stalin but more unhinged and he was portrayed by "BenAFlack" who is part of the loony left himself. OK, so the real issue, if there is any, is that MSNBC still sells themselves as "News" when they clearly are not, they are Very, very left leaning ideologues. Correct sir, you get two points! However, the Conservative Half 'yes that's half' of the county has know for over half a century that the media swoons over Dem's and big Gov and rails against Rep's and Conservative values. When Fox came along and put a few conservatives on the air as "commentators", it was so unusual to hear a different point of view on air that most of the Left was and still is howling it's biased. Which just illustrates how totally intolerant and BIAS they are. I say let MSNBC and Fox go at it. Mostly, the left wants to shut down opposing points of view not debate in the arena of ideas - I think this is healthy and the left starting to realize its institutionalized bias is a good first step. When there is a Fox type outlet for every (AP, Rueters, NYT, WAPO, CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, BBC and Hollywood) things will be fair. Until then it's baised left, left and way-way left.

sabbott · 12 months ago

NBC, MSNBC and Microsoft have been banned at my home!

Deb · 12 months ago

Journalists tend to come from the I-want-to-save-the-world types, the remedies-by-state-solutions crowd, i.e. liberals. (I speak from experience here.)
Thus, our media saturation is colored from the same perspective, and veering into indoctrination at times.
It IS an important first step for all of us to see these biases at work in the media, so we can work our way through to consideration of a wider range of views, to get at truthful insights into the world. It is important to regularly have multiple viewpoints vigorously presented, in a round-table-type format, and not just using token, lame commentators.
THIS will drive up viewer/reader interest and ratings AND renew respect for journalism.

Mazz · 12 months ago

You're just NOW figuring this out?

Kdizzydaze · 12 months ago

I agree that CNN Headline News actually give you the news of the day and it does seem relatively unbiased.
As for FOX Report w/Shepherd Smith. The same goes (watch it, you might be surprised).

As for the other issues you seek to uncover or investigate, the issue is not fairness in reporting or even accurate journalism - it is the control of information. We need and deserve full disclosure.

And here's a personal thought that may even apply to some of you: I know more about Sarah Palin's personal life than I think I do about my own wife - and I know less about our soon to be President than I do about my new next door neighbors that moved in just last week.

Isn't something wrong with that picture??





As stated by

olberhack · 12 months ago

the real irony is that keith olbermann has NEVER interviewed someone with a disagreeing point. chuck hagel and scott mcclellan are the ONLY 'republicans' he's ever had on there, and they were both interviewed in support of obama / in attacking george w bush.

look at the guest list... its scary... something like 400 liberals vs 0 disagreeing points!!! 0!!!! and this is the 'murrow of our time???'

heck, even hannity and o'reilly have disagreers on their show EVERY NIGHT.

"Partisan politicos and strategists interviewed by Keith Olbermann on Countdown (MSNBC weeknights, 8:00 pm Eastern), identified by party:


May 22 (2006): Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
May 30: Rep Barney Frank (D)
June 9: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
June 15: Bob Schrum (D)
June 16: Rep John Murtha (D)
June 19: Al Gore (D)
June 20: Sen Jack Reed (D)
June 20: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
June 23: Al Gore (D)
July 5: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
July 12: Barbara Boxer (D)
July 13: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
July 26: Bill Richardson (D)
August 8: Daily Kos (D)
August 9: Joe Trippi (D)
August 30: Howard Dean (D)
August 31: Barbara Boxer (D)
August 31: Rocky Anderson (D)
September 5: Tom Kean Jr (R) [speaking against Bush policies]
September 6: Richard Ben-Veniste (D)
September 7: Sean Maloney (D)
September 8: Mack McLarty (D)
September 11: Max Cleland (D)
September 20: Jane Hamsher (D)
September 22: Bill Jefferson Clinton (D)
September 26: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
September 28: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
October 16: John Ashcroft (R)
October 18: Joe Trippi (D)
October 20: Barack Obama (D)
October 26: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
October 31: Joe Trippi (D)
November 6: Howard Dean (D)
November 22: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
November 30: Joe Trippi (D)
December 6: Russ Feingold (D)
January 3 (2007): Barney Frank (D)
January 4: John Murtha (D)
January 4: Jay Rockefeller (D)
January 11: Russ Feingold (D)
January 18: George McGovern (D)
January 23: Hillary Clinton (D)
January 24: James Webb (D)
January 24: Hillary Clinton (D)
February 20: Tammy Duckworth (D)
February 21: David Boies (D)
February 27: Patrick Murphy (D)
March 21: Charles Schumer (D)
March 22: Patrick Leahy (D)
April 2: Joe Biden (D)
April 3: Russ Feingold (D)
April 6: Madeleine Albright (D)
May 15: Lanny Davis (D)
May 29: Al Gore (D)
June 5: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
June 20: Wesley Clark (D)
June 26: Rahm Emanuel (D)
July 6: Wesley Clark (D)
July 12: Wesley Clark (D)
July 20: John Kerry (D)
July 26: Wesley Clark (D)
August 6: Wesley Clark (D)
August 8: Joe Biden (D)
August 14: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
August 30: Wesley Clark (D)
September 4: Wesley Clark (D)
September 12: Chris Dodd (D)
September 13: Joe Biden (D)
September 27: Jim Webb (D)
September 27: Bill Clinton (D)
September 28: Elizabeth Edwards (D)
September 28: Bill Clinton (D)
October 3: John Edwards (D)
October 11: Hillary Clinton (D)
October 12: Bill Richardson (D)
October 24: John Garabendi (D)
October 29: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
November 19: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
November 29: John Edwards (D)
November 30: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
December 11: Tim Roemer (D)
December 14: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
December 14: Markos Moulitas (D)
December 27: Chris Dodd (D)
January 4 (2008): John Edwards (D)
January 10: Bill Richardson (D)
January 11: Rush Holt (D)
January 23: John Edwards (D)
February 25: Dee Dee Myers (D)
March 14: Barack Obama (D)
March 21: Bill Richardson (D)
March 31: Chuck Hagel (R) [speaking against Bush policies]
April 9: Elizabeth Edwards (D)
April 21: Hillary Clinton (D)
April 25: James Clyburn (D)
April 30: Chris Kofinis (D)
May 1: Joe Andrew (D)
May 9: Harry Reid (D)
May 9: James Webb (D)
May 28: Scott McClellan (R) [speaking against Bush policies]
June 6: Chris Kofinis (D)
June 9: Scott McClellan (R) [speaking against Bush policies]
June 11: John Kerry (D)
June 20: Chris Kofinis (D)
June 23: Markos Moulitsas (D)
June 25: Robert Wexler (D)
June 30: Jim Webb (D)
July 1: Chris Kofinis (D)
July 17: Chris Kofinis (D)
July 21: Chris Kofinis (D)
July 22: Chris Kofinis (D)
July 25: Bob Barr (L)
July 31: Chris Kofinis (D)
August 8: Chris Kofinis (D)
August 12: Chris Kofinis (D)
August 20: Chris Kofinis (D)
September 8: Barack Obama (D)
September 9: Barack Obama (D)
September 10: Chris Kofinis (D)
September 12: Markos Moulitsas (D)
September 15: Chris Kofinis (D)
September 18: Chris Kofinis (D)
September 24: Chris Kofinis (D)
September 25: Rahm Emanuel (D)
September 26: Robert Gibbs (D)
September 30: Chris Kofinis (D)
October 2: Chris Kofinis (D)
October 2: Claire McCaskill (D)
October 7: Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D)
October 8: Lawrence O'Donnell (D)
October 13: Chris Kofinis (D)
October 15: Chris Kofinis (D)
October 15: Rahm Emanuel (D)
October 16: Chris Kofinis (D)
October 17: Robert Bauer (D)
October 23: David Axelrod (D)
October 27: Chris Kofinis (D)
October 31: David Axelrod (D)
November 3: Chris Kofinis (D)
November 5: Chris Kofinis (D)
November 13: Chris Kofinis (D)
November 13: Robert Reich (D)
November 14: Chris Kofinis (D)
November 24: Robert Reich (D)
December 5: Robert Reich (D)"

Wow! what 'courage' for.... um... talking to democrats?

http://www.olbermannwatch.com/archives/2006/05/...

Ashley · 12 months ago

Olbermann's show is in the same time slot as Bill O'Reilly's. Maddow is up against Sean Hannity. To suggest that one can switch from MSNBC to Fox between 8 PM and 10 PM Eastern for strict news instead of opinion is absurd.

Mike · 12 months ago

Is this a joke? You say that "More than anyone on TV, Keith Olbermann reminds me of Stephen Colbert." You do know that Colbert's character is a parody of Bill O'Reilly. You are right that MSNBC's prime time does not contain "news." But it was Fox News that created the no-news all entertainment prime time, which MSNBC now copies on the liberal side. If you think that Fox News in prime time (as you suggest in your final paragraph) offers any useful "news," any analysis you provide lacks all credibility.

Pamela · 12 months ago

"Preferably, that will be online to a credible Web site, such as BBC News, The New York Times, Google News, Yahoo, or any site one thinks is best for his or her needs. "

I'm worried if these are the places you go for news. The NYT? Wow...and Google is the worst offender of all. They remove conservative/traditional Christian/etc... sites from their search so non-liberal opinions aren't found. How biased and dishonest can a "news" service be?

What worries me the most about all this is that people (including you) really believe the sites you specify are going to give them the truth. The fact is, if one wants the 'whole' truth, it would require looking into a variety of sites that one knows hold opposing views and then taking the information and deciding for oneself.

People always want to attack Rush Limbaugh but would not listen to him for their lives. I suspect they are afraid of what they will hear and have to start questioning their desired beliefs. It's easier to accuse him of being a hate monger and 'biased' than to confront his arguments. But after the election and the results of the Rasmussen Poll showing how poorly people (democrats) were educated by the media, (mainly the sources you are talking about here) I would think people would reconsider where they get their 'news'.

vegasguy · 12 months ago

You hit it right on the nose. The "news" sources Mr. Steinman cited are no less liberal than MSNBC. They just claim not to be while MSNBC at least admits their bias. Fox News does have a decidedly conservative flavor but I get facts from there that all of the other "news" sources ignore.

Todd · 12 months ago

Skip TV except for football. Internet news is where it's at. Having a TV in your house is like stabling a horse in it. You end up with with mountains of droppings for your brain. Radio is good for news too. Trashed my TV decades ago.

CaptDMO · 12 months ago

"We might say about (Maddow).... She is low-key, clever, intelligent and usually effective."
What, exactly, demonstrates the "intelligent" part of reading a teleprompter?
Who actually writes and/or edits that narrative?

baystater · 12 months ago

She writes it herself and sometimes makes changes mid-show, during commercial breaks. You don't have to agree with her, but this is a smart girl whether you'd like to believe it or not.

Voice of Experience · 12 months ago

The difference between CNN and MSNBC is the difference between Mao and Stalin

Stuart · 11 months ago

"newstainment." I like that and I agree but I have to say that is what all cable news networks are about CNN,MSNBC,and FOX. I dont see a difference between any of them. Forget about the tingle in his leg when Matthews said his job now is to make sure that the new admininstration suceeds it was all over.You can no longer claim to be fair when you stated your objective is something over then reporting the news. Colber Report is a rip at O'reilly though and not Olbermann. Olbermann is just the otherside of the coin that is Bill O'Reilly Headline news is OK I guess. When it comes to cable news if you want opinion then go ahead and watch but I agree they are not news programs. Real news programs are getting harder and harder to find.

LeanderTheSalamander · 11 months ago

These days I am actually longing for the long-gone days of evening TV news. Five minutes of local news, five minutes of weather forecast, five minutes of sports and fifteen minutes of either Huntley-Brinkley or Walter Cronkite.

In a half hour a night, you got better and more useful information than you do today with all the 24/7 outlets combined.

I mean, really...who cares what any of these self-appointed experts think about anything? And who really should give a rat's rear bumper about the celebrity of the moment and the latest trends?

Politicalssidiot · 11 months ago

This is PoliticalssIdiot and I don't like Olbermann.

Chuck Bruton · 11 months ago

Whoa, aren't you misguided by the far left liberal media. MSNBC is not a journalist or news network.