In this book, scholars examine the many prevailing arguments about media bias from a non-polemical perspective. Essays cover individual forms of bias, including ideology, politics, television, photography, religion, abortion, homosexuality, gender, race, crime, environment, region, military, corporate ownership, labor and health. Each essay introduces the topic, presents arguments for and against the specific bias, assesses the evidence for all arguments, and includes a list of suggested readings. Two additional essays discuss the broader aspects of the bias debate and give a personal perspective on reporting the controversial Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Author and editor of numerous books Wm. David Sloan is retired from teaching journalism at the University of Alabama. He lives in Northport, Alabama.
Jenn Burleson Mackay is an advanced student in the doctoral program in mass communication at the University of Alabama and has been assistant director of the Graduate Project on Media Bias.

Edited by Wm. David Sloan and Jenn Burleson Mackay
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 264
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, indexes
Copyright Date: 2007
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3042-0
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5505-8
Imprint: McFarland

Preface

Introduction: The Bias Debate      3

1. Reporting the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Personal View      1
2. Ideology      24
3. Political Partisanship      35
4. Religion      0
5. Abortion      65
6. Homosexuality      1
7. Gender      0
8. Race and Ethnicity      05
9. Crime      17
10. The Environment      33
11. Regional Bias      50
12. The Military      61
13. Television News      175
14. Photojournalism      184
15. Corporate Ownership      99
16. Management and Labor      214
17. Health and Medicine      29

About the Contributors      45
Index      49

“recommended”—SRRT Newsletter; “well-documented…beautifully organized and documented…highly recommended”—Counterpoise; “invaluable”—School Library Journal.