What about TV journalism?

   How do I keep ending up interested in the left-leaning news reporting? Oh, wait....It's right leaning this time! I promise, I'm not trying to be an instigator, it's just intriguing to hear both sides. At the same time, it is frustrating to hear both sides. They are clever, both the right and left understand that we like the controversial, strange, or flashy news. As some have said "Good news is no news." So they give us what we like. But in the midst of that, we are quietly pushed to think what they think, or see a very different picture than the real one.

 Truthfully, CBSN news presents what they choose to present rather honestly, making sure there are at least two opinions of a story in their broadcast. They may not be forthright with those opinions, but looking carefully, you can tell they are present. Over an hour of their news program I was informed on numerous types of news: weather, political, economic/stocks, entertainment, disaster. But what one showed the bias of the reporters and the CBSN news station, do you think? If you thought political, you're correct.

 You see, things like the weather, sports, business, entertainment, we generate our own opinions about each of those things, and they are important to us in our daily lives to some degree. But politics stands apart. It has it's foundation in what we believe and how we live. Our opinions about who should run our country and how they should do it, that extends to our beliefs on what is moral. Basically, it extends deep into our hearts and minds. That's why politics becomes such a battle-ground. We're supporting what we believe in, whether we see it that way or not.

 All that to say, the hour of news I viewed was plastered with discussion about Donald Trump's boycott of the last Republican GOP debate before the primaries. Repeatedly, as they discussed why he would skip the debate and whether it would effect him in the presidential race, the news reporters showed negative leaning clips of Trump and shows mocking him. Statements such as, "There has not been the scrutiny for Donald Trump as the front-runner as the front-runner has historically had." Or simply using negative words to talk about his boycott, "I am very confident if he[Trump] was five points lower he wouldn't be bailing."

 Between this onslaught of Trump news, the reporters talked about the Democratic race, giving a good portion of the time to a Bernie Sanders supporter. In fact, they did so well presenting Hillary, Sanders, and the other candidates that I had to do some research to check on whether they are liberal or not. It seems the overall view is that they are right-leaning, plus they allow Republican advertisements for Rubio, Cruz, and others, but they don't seem to like Mr. Trump in the least.

 Sadly, it is understandable that they would make fun of Trump. He can be laughable and ridiculous , that is my bias at least, and I get why they would use Trump to get people's attention.  However, that is by no means the way journalism should be. It is the kind of business that is protected by our Constitution to promote the truth, not ridicule or serve as entertainment primarily. We may have more news now, but I don't know if I can honestly say it's as fair and truthful as we like to think. Keep on your guard. There is much to learn, hear, and see, but there is also ways to be mislead in all our learning.

Radio News Today

  In all honesty, I don't know what to say. As I listened to this broadcast, I thought it sounded founded and credible. Mara Liasson seemed to present both sides of the issue briefly and factually. Yet, as I dug deeper, I found something that seemed deceptively simple and honest was only a front for a common story.

  Mara Liasson reported on the latest Republican GOP debate in a broadcast by NPR Media on January 15, 2016. She listed a few of the issues presented to the candidates on the platform, Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Carson, Christie, Bush, and Kasich. Catching an otherwise bored audience, she drew attention to the scuffle, or rather "the brawl" as NPR put it, between Trump and Cruz. While Mrs. Liasson later pointed, that "...The spotlight remained on Trump and Senator Cruz...".

  Searching for background about her, the news station, and the debate she reported on, I found it interesting that Mara Liasson is more Left-leaning in her opinions. This also goes for NPR. But surprisingly, they reported on a Republican debate. This made it clear that I needed to find other opinions about this issue to see if she was as credible and unbiased as she seemed. A long story short, I only ran into more bias wherever I looked, so I watched the Republican GOP debate myself. Surprisingly, but sort of sadly, I watched the debate run almost smoothly. Each candidate received questions and chances to speak on important issues applying to our country, and though it is obvious they are each competitive and dislike each other (to a degree), they generally held to the rules of the debate.

 I suppose I shouldn't have been this shocked about this stretched version of the story, but the truth remains that we should not trust everything we hear, or watch, or are told. Be informed, wise, thorough people. If possible, look at things first hand to generate your own views. As much as our news and news reporters project themselves as only giving the facts, it is only honest to admit that we still like the exciting, unique news from them. This leaves our informers an open door to stretch the truth to make it interesting or pertaining to certain people groups. And we must realize that everyone is biased to a degree. The only way to truly understand and learn from the news is by looking at it from a variety of opinions, and thinking critically about them. It takes more effort, more time, more work, yes. But, an informed and educated people is what we must strive to be, nonetheless.

  Simply challenge, even the things you think or know are truth. You will find it either flawed and shaky, or you will find what you believe founded and something to stand even taller upon. Analyzing things for truth is never a wasted effort.

Here is the link for the radio broadcast by NPR.
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=463146182&m=463146183&live=1