Rating: 
Summary: Support for the Basic Definition of Journalism
Review: You may feel that watching the news on television can be likened to an indoctrination session where America's big 3 newsleaders, Rather, Brokaw and Jennings, are freely interpreting the news they are only supposed to be reporting. By listening to what they think and watching only what they deem important enough to air, we are being taught how we are supposed to think and act. The reality presented on TV is certainly not the real American reality.
In this book, insider Bernard Goldberg reveals that for years the elite, removed clique that runs television news has made it its business to pass their liberal slant on current issues as the middle of the road American point-of-view. Anytime an issue needs the backup of expert opinion, the conservative side of the story is always labeled by news journalists as 'conservative' or 'right-wing' while the liberal counterpart is introduced or cited with no prefacing label as if this opinion was considered the moderate or middle of the road stance. When Goldberg attempted to point out that true journalism meant merely reporting the news and not editorializing it by writing a op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal denouncing one newscasters inappropriate bias regarding a presidential candidates flat tax idea, he was chewed up so badly by his employer, CBS news, he eventually found himself out of a job.
Goldberg recounts the struggle he underwent with the moguls of CBS news, but even more interestingly, he informs us of certain big stories that are blown out of proportion by the media. Why? The networks work hand in hand with lobbying groups that they share views with and make sure their shared message gets across during prime time. On the other hand, certain really important stories and study outcomes are suppressed because the news media does not think their liberal-leaning backers really want to hear the real facts about some of the effects of their life decisions.
Bottom line? The news is an entertainment like all else on television. If it doesn't get the ratings, it doesn't get the advertisers. Advertisers won't pay if they are not reaching their audiences. The target audience consists of a small elite moneyed group whose profile is rather removed from that of the average American.
Mr. Goldberg presents his arguement clearly and fairly succinctly while he is being both brash and amusing. Reading this book is no chore, and it may enlighten those who have read it to form a campaign to demand 'Only the facts' from anyone who dares report it. Bernie, you go, guy!
Rating: 
Summary: BREAKING NEWS!: JOURNALISTS ARE HUMAN BEINGS!-UNFORTUNATELY
Review: America is the only nation in the present world and the first and only nation in human history to have enshrined "Freedon of Speech and of The Press" in its Constitution (At least in the case of POLITICAL utterances--Religious dissent {especially agnosticism and atheism} and so-called: "Obscenity" are altogether different and largely unrelated issues). Most of the other nations upon this planet--and nearly ALL of the other major democracies--DO NOT subscribe to the notion that "The Public" has either a universal "Right-To-Know" about the workings and dealings of the state or an unlimited permission to question and criticize the government and its authority and policies (For example: Our "Mother-Country": Great Britain has both an Official Secrets Act and various "Anti-Terrorism" laws that grant to the government considerable latitude to define the meanings of "State-Secrets", "National Security", and "Terrorism", and, in the name "National Security", "Protecting State Secrets" and "Combatting Terrorism", to legally censor the press). Thus the question of alleged "Media Bias" MUST be considered within this context: The American Government is unique in the degree to which it allows itself to be scrutinized and criticized.
Permit me to state this with the utmost of emphasis: "MEDIA BIAS" IS A PSEUDO-ISSUE--A contrivance of the paranoia and megalomania of Richard Nixon during his war with the press (With the passage to time, I have come to regard The Watergate Scandal not as a "Constitutional Crisis"--THAT was a Media confabulation--but as a classically traditional internal power struggle between two factions of The American Establishment: The Nixon Administration and The Washington Post). As with other things--Such as the "Necessity" of "Political Ideology"--I fail to understand the "Problem" of "Media Bias"; thus I fail to comprehend Mr. Golberg's assertion--and the assertions that are contained within other similiar volumes that have been written by other "pundits" of his kind--that "Media Bias" is some outrageously terrible "BAD THING" (And the near-apocalyptically shrill timbre of this books was of no assistance to my comprehension: If one accedes to Mr. Golberg's premise, then one would be compelled to believe that the American people a flock of poor, good, and naive little lambs who are being lead-astray by The Big/Bad "Liberal-Media" Wolf). For many years, Stephen Jay Gould and Stephen Hawking have, in their written and spoken utterances, attested to the fact that supposedly objective science is a human endeavor, and this is fraught with all the flaws and failings of human nature; thus, it stands to reason that, if SCIENTISTS--Professional Objectivists--are but meagre and imperfect human beings, then why is it expected that JOURNALISTS are supposed to be able to transcend their human natures and personal prejudices and embody some mighty quality of perfect objectivity (I no more expect my journalists to be objective than I expect my politicians to be paragons-of-virtue; thus would someone/anyone care to explain to me why "Media Bias" is a "Problem" that supposedly "Threatens" the "Good" of The Commonwealth? {It seems to me that the term: "Media Bias" has evolved into a code-phrase for: "ALL-THOSE-THINGS-THAT-I-DON'T-LIKE-OR-AGREE-WITH-THEREFORE-DON'T-WANT-TO-SEE-OR-HEAR-OR-THINK-ABOUT"}). Americans are neither totally fools, nor are we at the "Mercy" of our "Media". "THE OBJECTIVE JOURNALIST" is not extinct, like the dinosaurs; rather, he is MYTHICAL, like the fire-breathing dragon. And Media Conglomerates are BUSINESSES, whose purpose is MAKING PROFITS; and, as always (Mr, Golberg, please take note), "BIAS--In its cutomary forms of contrived controversy, sensationalism, and hysteria--SELLS! (The true dilemma of "Media Bias" is not that journalists are promoting some "Liberal" agenda or that Media Corporations are spreading potentionally "Anti-American" propaganda, but that journalism has degenerated into just another form of entertainment).
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS UNBIASED MEDIA. And the use of "The Media" to promote propaganda is as old has human civilization (Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions consist mostly of extravagantly and elaborately obsequious hymns-of-praise to the glory of The Pharaoh's person and the majesty of his achievements). That which is truly annoying about this book--and all others of its kind--is Mr. Golberg's assertion that "Media Bias" is some terrible new phenomenon that has, in the manner of an evil spirit, suddenly "possessed" the journalists of America (Perhaps an "exorcism" is in order: CENSORSHIP, anyone?). In America, there was a William Randolph Hearst, a Joseph Pulitzer, and James Gordon Bennett long before there was a CNN, an MSNBC, and a FOXNEWS. There was the radical abolitionism of William Lloyd Garrison's THE LIBERATOR and the equally radical pro-slavery racism of Robert Barnwell Rhett's CHARLESTON MERCURY. And, if one wishes to venture back that far, there was the stalwart Federalism of Alexander Hamilton's NEW YORK POST and the staunch Anti-Federalism of Benjamin Franklin Bache's AURORA (And lest we forget: The scurrilous scandal-mongering of James Thomson Callender who accomplished the not inconsiderable feats of both being imprisoned for sedition for insulting President John Adams and slandering BOTH Alexander Hamilton AND Thomas Jefferson). BIAS?..SCMIAS!--Not only is "Media Bias" not new, it has a fine Old American Pedigree: It is, as they say, "As American as cherry pie!"
Rating:
Summary: If this doesn't get you thinking, nothing will.
Review: Let me start by explaining why I gave the book only four stars instead of five. There are two reasons: 1) The first four chapters seemed a bit tedious and repetitious, &
2) The remainder of the book was far too short! Perhaps it was my own impatience to get past the history of how the book came to be written and on to the meat of the book that made the first few chapters so hard for me to chew through. While the background was very interesting and insightful, the following chapters were what struck even me, the world's biggest "backyard critic" of liberal agendas, as monumental: The Epidemic of Fear (chapter 5): There is no doubt in my mind that homosexual activity (bi-sexuality, call it what you will) is a growing trend in America. I find it disturbing that it has reached the heart of American teens. I have two teenagers myself, and have discovered that whether in a small town or a major metropolis, bi-sexuality (for either gender) is something of a social status. I can't help but wonder, had the truth about the AIDS epidemic been told, would this trend have been truncated? Would sexual morality still be persecuted as "bigotry", "fundamentalist", and "judgemental"? Would gay adoption rights even be being considered as a healthy option for impressionable children? The Most Important Story You Never Saw On TV (chapter 11) This one strikes close to home, because I have chosen to make a career out of being a wife and mother. I remember a time when being a stay-at-home mom (or domestic engineer if you prefer the glorified term) was considered an admirable choice... and if while the children were at school, mom had time to write a novel, or volunteer for a worthy cause or charity, so much the better! In the last decade or two, the social attitude towards women who stay at home has become almost intolerant. Yet it never occurred to me how big a part the news media played in all this, and I commend Goldberg for exposing the truth about the so-called statistics we've all heard. I Thought Our Job Was To Tell The Truth / Where Pimps and Thieves Run Free (chapters 7 & 10) WOW... and I thought racism was a thing of the past! These two chapters give insight to the oxymoronic double standard of racism and reverse racism. Oh yes, discrimination is alive and well in America. The media has just become a collective expert on doing it within legal boundaries. Targeting Men (chapter 9) Having long ignored such organizations as N.O.W, which treats men as second class citizens deserving as little or less respect than stay-at-home moms, it had never occurred to me just how much men suffer from discrimination. Not just some men in particular, either. I once thought that those who were abused by the system must have deserved it. Now I realize that each time a man is targeted in ways such as are described in this chapter, it affects ALL men. I encourage all people to read this book. In fact, I have made it required reading for my children!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Subject-Bad Journalism
Review: There certainly is *Bias* in the news.....but a conservative bias...not a Liberal bias. Read David Brocks book..*Blinded by the Right* if you want to know what is really going on. Or just watch Faux News or read The Washington *Moonie* Times. If you believe there is a liberal bias after the way the press attacked Clinton for 8 years and now lets pResident Twig bumble through things without comment.....then you really are naive.
Rating:
Summary: Good Content - Not so good writing
Review: The book is focused on the medias bias, the fact that not all the media is neutral. The author has some interesting and factual data, but the writing is hard to read and follow. The author uses an approach full of short stories that are not well linked to the story. It takes too many pages to describe a single fact, using too many words. I was expecting more from this book. Good approach, bad execution.
Rating: 
Summary: Finally caught, and about time
Review: This was a good exercise in learning what exactly to listen and watch for in the media. No longer will the "news" be taken as Gospel. Barry gives solid examples of liberal slants and outright lies that have been fed to the American public in the name of news.
Rating:
Summary: Good content - terrible book
Review: This book is about how the media distorts the news in order to sell a particular point of view. But the writing is terrible. It is hard to keep the track of the book. The author tries to use metaphors in excess, and instead of a good factual book, you have a book that is a mix of very good content (25% of the book) with narrative in excess that adds zero value to the story. Open the book on any page and read a couple of pages and you will see what I mean. The author uses 3 pages to describe a situation or a fact that can be described with 3 sentences. I am a passionate reader, but I had a hard time finishing this book
Rating:
Summary: (Almost) All the News that's Fit to Print
Review: Bernard Goldberg worked for CBS for 28 years. From civil rights to AIDS, this man had (and does have) an extraordinary resume. His body of work is what aspiring journalists, I would hope, learn from. Are inspired by. Is sought to be replicated. However, there was a certain madness in his work. A level of hidden insaniy. Mr. Goldberg felt there was a liberal bias in the way CBS, NBC and ABC presented the news. He didn't want a conservative presentation, he just felt that there was no balance to the news. He acknowledges he's a liberal, or, more liberal than conservative. He just stated that there was no voice from the loyal opposition. So he asked for a forum to air his views. Doors were slammed. Windows shut. And he was totally ignored. And then he committed a Garden of Eden level sin. He went to the Wall Street Journal and wrote an article on the liberal emphasis of the network news. And that was the end of an illustrious career. On a much more subjective level, I've often wondered how CBS, NBC and ABC get the stories they present. If you are paid by the amount of fans you have, surely the selection of stories becomes important. Paul McCartney doesn't do rap. And The Who decided against doing a Gershwin medley. Erode the fan base equals no money. So when the success of your business is to be better than the two huge businesses putting out exactly the same product you are, how do you sell your product in a way that's better than the competition? The station telling the best news, best, gets the most viewers. And somehow, using a formula that would have left Albert Einstein scratching his head, that means more money. Well the stories I saw for decades didn't make much sense. And I am happy and relieved that Bernard Goldberg saw he same hing I saw. They were important stories, no doubt, about AIDS and the Homeless and why Bill Clinton was the victim of a massive Republican plot. But I didn't know anybody who felt the way Tom and Peter and Dan was telling me to feel. It was for the most part, 'this is how we feel and this is how you ought to feel unless you're an ignorant Druid living in the uncharted land west of the Hudson.' The other thing that struck me was that there were nations in unpopular foreign countries that were dying. I mean the entire country was evaporating without so much as an Armani clothed Britt Hume or Sam Donaldson saying a homily. An obit. These stories got no coverage and yet, two income couples in Manhattan making six figures each and "oy, the guilt" of putting young Brie into day care, these stories got serials. Docu-dramas. By all three networks. So I did the only thing I could do. I changed the channel. I watch O'Reilly and ESPN. Every other year I switch over and see Tom getting more (I think the polite phrase is) thick waisted, Dan, like Dorian, unchanged with nary a mark on his face, and Peter, well Peter's just so darn GQ. Then I quickly turn back to O'Reilly in case there's a chance I might catch the horrific, truly terrifying things the Troika is talking about if I don't get my middle aged stuff together. And now I know why. Bernard Goldberg squealed. He ought to be in the Witness Protection Program but he's out here telling us what we always suspected but were afraid to assume. The evening news is ENTERTAINMENT! It's not news, it's SHOW BUSINESS. And, (Ethel Merman, where are you babe?) "There's no Business Like Show Business!" So, this is a great book. It should be required reading for every kid in high school or college. I'm a Bernard Goldberg fan. Keep on writing!
Rating:
Summary: Courage and Honesty
Review: The writer affirms what many have known for a long time, i.e. there is a liberal bias in the main stream American media. He showed courage in writing this book since he was a part of the media (CBS) and thus was pointing out this fault in those who were his fellow workers. Even though he has many liberal views, he was honest enough to recognize and report this bias in spite of the fact that the bias was in favor of positions he often supported. The view presented is an inside perspective of the presentation of news on CBS. The author seems to have a special problem with Dan Rather of CBS but doesn't dismiss the news anchors of NBC and ABC from the accusations of bias. Many examples are given of the bias shown by CBS and other news media as they report news events in such a way as to present liberal causes in a good light. At times he contrasts the examples with what might be called a "what if" scenario with the assumption that a like news event would be reported in such a way as to demean the conservative cause. His examples are numerous and I believe convincing, though I must admit that I may be biased.. The book is both very interesting and informative.
Rating:
Summary: It is about time
Review: This book tells it like it is and its about time. Everyone who watches news and news shows (60 minutes, 20/20, etc) should read this book.
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