Do Consumers Care About Perceived Media Bias?

NPR President and CEO Vivian Schiller stepped down on March 9.

The move came in the wake of a video depicting an NPR fundraiser making disparaging remarks about members of the Tea Party. This personnel shake-up at NPR came at a particularly sensitive time for public broadcasting.

Congress is currently debating whether or not to continue funding the media outlet. One reason to cut funding? Because of NPR’s alleged liberal bias. But, media bias is an equal opportunity label – NPR, Fox News, MSNBC – all are considered by some to have a political slant. True or not – does it matter? Is media bias bad news for audiences?

To find out, Eight Forty-Eight, which airs on 91.5 FM WBEZ Chicago, heard from listeners, and spoke with Michele Weldon about the recent history of media bias. Weldon is an assistant professor of journalism at Northwestern University.