Political science

Choose one question to answer:
Twenty-seven US states, including California, have some form of direct democracy, where citizens vote directly on policy. There are many proponents and critics of this process; do you think it is beneficial or harmful to allow citizens to vote directly on policy, rather than their views being represented by elected officials?

With $6.8 billion spent in 2016 in federal elections, many often decry the large amount of money spent in American electoral campaigns. Do you believe this is a problem? Why or why not? What could be done about it, if so?

To what extent do you think media bias is a problem in the way political events are covered in the news? Do you think the press should become more explicitly partisan? Why or why not?

President Trump has frequently derided unfavorable coverage of his administration as “fake news” and has stated that the mainstream media are “the enemy of the American people.” Why has the President taken this unprecedented approach to the media? What is his objective? What impact do you think this will have on the freedom of the press in our democracy?

ANSWER

To what extent do you think media bias is a problem in the way political events are covered in the news? Do you think the press should become more explicitly partisan? Why or why not?

Media plays a critical role in disseminating information across the country and globe. Today, in a digitalized and technologically developed world, many people in the country access political information from various media outlets, which spread faster and quickly, covering political campaigns and other political events. Media bias has been a significant problem in the USA, even with media outlets being criticized and scrutinized to disseminate ‘fake news.’ When journalists and producers in news and media outlets select the political events to cover and report in favor of one party over the other or candidate, it becomes biases. Even though choosing is inevitable in these news houses due to the presence of many stories and events to cover, there should be comprehensive and universal selection criteria that do not involve attacking some parties and supporting others. A balance must be maintained free from slanted messages, subjectivity, and sensationalism. Media bias can result in misinterpretation of information, which would lead to misperception and misguide the citizens by initiating ‘fake’ or biased party politics. This results in tarnishing a competitor’s political party or politician while providing an unfair or undeserved competitive edge to another in politics.

Consequently, the press should not become explicitly partisan, as it profoundly promotes misperceptions among citizens in the political arena. Having the press being explicit partisan means maximized competition among parties, which provides a window and susceptibility for fake and biased news to tarnish or uplift a politician and their party. Secondly, having much fake news circulating may result in misperceptions and distraction from the real information that people would want to know, thus, misinformation of citizens and supporters.