Blair Arnold is a full time University student at UOW studying Journalism. Due to his affiliations with Journalism, he was the perfect candidate for filling out a series of questions based on my group’s topic ‘A Study of bias in media coverage of terrorism’. This is then followed by an analysis of the questions and answers.
Do you think the media is bias? How come?
Yeah definitely, anything that is written is subjective to the writer, because every angle you cover has it’s own form of bias. This can be seen in any kind of event or conversation, for example; ‘I’m an avid bike rider’, here the subjects’ own personal opinion is clearly stated through their own bias.
What do you think the main implications are with the media today in terms of bias?
The problem with the media today is that with the emergence of social media, the Internet has given way to a platform for citizen bloggers to state their opinions. Citizen bloggers contribute to the media, however they should not be the primary source of reference. The problem is there are no restrictions on the Internet for blogging, for amateur bloggers don’t follow a code of conduct. This is what separates bloggers from professional journalists, for they must conform to the code of conduct when working for an institution.
What is your definition of terrorism? And what event do you instantly think of when you think of terrorism?
The media makes you associate terrorism with violence, guns and terrorist attacks. Terrorism goes against societies idea of what is considered ethically right. I believe the sole purpose of terrorism is to undermine society and our governments. The media pushes 911 to be the foremost event of terrorism in our history.
What do you think the consequences are in bias media coverage?
People are misinformed on current news topics and issues, which incites divisions in our society. An example of this is the struggle with the western world and Islam, especially Muslim women and their dress code of the Burqa and how many perceive that goes against the morals and principles of western culture.
Do different media outlets affect your views towards terrorism?
I prefer some news sites over others for some are more credible and reliable in comparison to other media outlets, which are politically driven. These credible sites tend to be more fact filled with less opinion-based information. This opinion based information leads to skewed viewpoints and tends to incite false allegations of the accused.
Do you think a persons age or demographic affects these views?
There is a whole bunch of factors, which influence these views. Ultimately these views can be swayed by the media, showcasing the power the media holds over a population.
Overall, I was happy with how the interview flowed, as I was able to attain some valuable information for further analysis. Interviewing a student currently studying Journalism puts an interesting twist to the finds, for they are entering the world of the mass media. This research will create a structure for ongoing work in exploring bias in the media, especially in relation to terrorism.
"Whoever Controls The Media, Controls The Mind" 