The "new" age old question

This evening I attended a lecture from Naomi Klein at the University of Regina, her discussion was on how governments use disasters (i.e. terrorist attacks, wars, storms etc) as a way to fast track otherwise unpopular or unethical public policy into law.

Thats all well and good.

However after the main lecture was over Klein answered questions from the audience.

There were close to a thousand people in attendance, and by the applause that peppered her lecture it would be a fair conclusion that most were on the left side of the political spectrum.

One gentleman questioned the amount or lack of media coverage this idea has received in both Canada and the United States, and then concluded that it must be because 'the right wing media has an obvious bias'.

This has always stuck me as odd, as often the media is referred to as "left winged". Especially Canadian broadcasters such as the CBC.

We seem to have a problem here, which is it? Is the media left or right winged?

I think it really comes down to individual perception, and in this case both camps are correct.

I'll explain.

Conservatives say the media is a tool of the left because statistically it is. Most of the major media outlets are located in the north eastern United States, namely New York city. Or in Canada, southern Ontario/Toronto.

Traditionally these regions have been Democratic/Liberal/NDP strongholds, and would be expected to have a somewhat left of centre leaning when reporting the news. The reporters, producers, anchors etc are generally well educated, urban individuals products of their environment who perpetuate the areas political ideals.

So yes it may be fair to say there is a liberal media.

However a conservative media also exists, in fact its the same media as the liberal media.

Media organizations are owned by larger companies. Companies that operate within a free market system and have one single objective, which is to increase profits. This idea of big business is fundamental to the concept of "right wing".

Management traditionally is associated with the right, while the employees can be considered left.

So the owners of the media outlets are probably right leaning, and the people who make up the media are left leaning.

In the end both sides are right.

Geeze concensus building sure is boring.