But first . . .

• Mass media
• Bias--what is it?
• Glenn Beck and bias, Bernie Goldberg (here on diversity)
• Commercial media approach: Use simple shorthand (why?)
• What is 'partisan bias?'
  • Left/Right comparisons (old maps, new maps, big sort)
• Jon Stewart and Crossfire (the rich vs the super rich parody)
• Individual versus structural explanations of bias: individual political views of journalists vs ownership concentration--or Journalists vs their employers (scene from 'Network')
• Analogies: Coke and Pepsi, anyone?
• Who benefits from accusations of partisan bias?
• Whose points of view are people most likely to see reflected on commercial news?
• Alternatives?
• Media--well-packaged form of social control?
• Reference points to compare: journalistic standards
• How many of these stories receive mainstream coverage?