Let's face it...I regularly watch ESPN. I have seen the fact that many channels (especially news channels) are biased towards a certain political agenda (CNN with the Clintons, Fox with the GOP)...but I have to wonder if there is any such political bias at ESPN, the nation's leading sports channel. I have seen programs that would raise eyebrows such as the Barry Bonds reality show...the American football drama "Playmakers" (American Football = NFL, Football = Soccer if international readers are confused)...and the one-time enlisting of Rush Limbaugh on the network's NFL coverage...I am also aware of Keith Olbermann's political slant on his MSNBC show (and the fact that he was a SportsCenter host). So to make a long story short...is there an actual political bias at ESPN?
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Yes, the same as any other network.
Unfortunately, all networks have a political bias although very rarely do any of them admit it.
You must remember that networks are usually owned by one person or a group of majority stockholders, who decide what stories they want to air and promote.
This usually takes place via the news director and editiorial manager, of which the political bias of the network usually reflects the direct individual choices of the station owner or majority stockholders which is why FOX stories are always slanted towards the GOP due to (Rupert Murdoch) the owner.
Other networks do accordingly, so even though they try to convince us that they are neutral all networks have a policital bias that they do not advertise for obvious reasons.
Therefore, if the owner of ESPN does not like Bonds then the majority of stories will be anti-bonds. If the owner supports Bonds then the stories will support Bonds.
Same with Michael Vick and etc. However, I don't see anyone complaining about no talents s+%ts Sergio Garcia getting good coverage. Nor did ESPN ever apologize about the comments that Rush Limbaugh made about Donovan McNabb, when he called him not as good as any other quarterack but McNabb took them to the playoffs the following year.
I can't say I see a theme in any bias in ESPN's coverage. The Bonds show was just a bad idea. Playmakers was a rather cheap attempt to get ratings, and then ESPN quickly backed down when the NFL objected. Rush Limbaugh's hiring was an attempt to put a little conversation into the Sunday pregame show, and that flamed out in an instant.
Turn the darn factor off, humans nonetheless move to the library and browse. The Constitution has been in situation for a minimum of 215 years and radio has been round for approximately eighty-ninety years and television for approximately 60 years, humans have been constantly good knowledgeable with out the ones bias's'. To be knowledgeable is to have larger potential on what is going on. Read it is unfastened.
Have you noticed a political bias? The evidence you site skews both ways. We're all better off if we learn to evaluate our news sources for ourselves. If you notice bias, then be aware of it when you are evaluating the information you get from the channel. If it bothers you too much, stop watching.