Classical Liberals

1
Classical Liberals

• Independent, sovereign agents
• Capitalistic (a la Adam Smith)
• Self-determinism governed by market forces
• Highly individualistic
• Self-evident, natural law
• Government (necessary evil)
• Jefferson, Paine, Madison

2
Traditional Conservative

• People differentially endowed
• Aristocracy
• Tradition/religious/cultural values
• Edmund Burke

3
Neo-Conservatives

• If people possess the right values it will lead
  them to liberty and happiness
• Character development
• Transmission/retention of a common culture

4
Liberals

• Want to help the oppressed/powerless
• Regulatory safeguards rather than unfettered
  market economy
• Re-invent/re-imagine culture
• John Dewey

5
Ideological
Extramedia
Organization
Media Routines
Individual
6
Re-Thinking Objectivity

• How can objectivity make some reporters lazy?
• Is objectivity a worthy goal or does it in the
  end cause more harm than good?
• How much analysis should reporters allow in
  their stories?
• Do you think its a good idea for reporters to
  become experts on various topics?

7
Campaign Trail Veterans for Truth

• Is making a judgment about the truth of a
  politicians statement not objective?
• Do you think fact checking will clean up
  negative campaigning?
• Should fact checking be a constant effort by
  the news media not just during election season?
• Is there such thing as a Fairness Bias?

8
Video Illusions of News

• In the documentary, Michael Deaver (Reagans
  advisor) states that visuals override words every
  time. Do you agree or disagree?
• Does the film make you feel like youve been
  manipulated? Have things changed since the time
  of this film (1989)?
• What is the central tension in the mass media (as
  several interview subjects pointed out)?
• Do you think Bill Moyers treatment of this
  subject was biased in any way?