Is the media corrupted by huge amounts of money spent on TV ads?

[kentuck]

Do they have a tendency to report more favorably on candidates that contribute huge sums to their bottom line?

Are they inclined to report on polls that favor the big spenders?

Do they look for ways to make everything a horserace?

To what degree are these media operations corrupted by big money?

[RKP5637]

1. IMO Yes! n/t

[redstatebluegirl]

2. Of course they are!

[LakeArenal]

3. Yes

YES YES YES.

The whole process beyond media seems to be corrupted by money.

Lack of it gets really viable candidates to drop out. Tons of it gets you in in the middle of the game.

[customerserviceguy]

4. The only example I can offer is

the amounts of money that Big Pharma spends on MSM news shows, and the fact that the drug companies are getting away with outright theft these days.

If you think I'm wrong, watch ABC/CBS/NBC news shows, and keep a tally sheet divided into three parts: Prescription medicines, over-the-counter remedies, and everything else. You might be surprised at the results after a week of doing this.

Bloomie's money is like a new drug to them, they salivate like crazy that he's going to throw a billion or two at them if he can go all the way to Election Day. There will be pressure to avoid covering certain stories, and only Fox News will be reporting them. When the mushy middle starts turning to Fox for some information that the MSM will try to minimize (or even kick under the rug) then they may be subject to being swayed by the manipulators over there.

[randr]

5. Every two years they belly up to the trough

and you need to ask. Political campaigns are the bread and butter of the MSM. Why do you think we can't get reform?

[FoxNewsSucks]

6. Does a bear shit in the woods???

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Glad you are paying attention.

People have forgotten the statements from CEO's of the Major Networks bragging about the money they were making off of the Orange Anus Ads and the Clinton Ads.

[Timewas]

8. Duh n/t

[Caliman73]

9. Media is a business and a money making enterprise.

There are journalists who try to maintain standards in their reporting and news rooms which value objectivity and facts in reporting. The overarching situation in media however, is making money. This creates the situation where everything is seen through the lens of whether or not it will bring in revenue.

I don't think that they reported "favorably" on Trump in 2016. They just reported A LOT which allowed Trump to keep his face and name out there energizing those who supported him and depressing the enthusiasm of those who didn't care or didn't like him. They report on the story that will get viewers or clicks and advertising space which is based on ratings.

Media is inclined to report on polls that they think will excite people, or create controversy. It would not necessarily be the person spending big bucks, but those who are making waves that draw in viewers.

Conflict and controversy are usually the most lucrative types of story so if there is an angle that creates or highlights controversy and conflict, media will focus on that.

There are a handful to a dozen major media companies that are either major corporations in and of themselves, like FOX or which are owned by corporations (I.E. General Electric owning a portion of MSNBC). Media doesn't necessarily take money from candidates or supporters in a "pay to play" sort of way, but they are corrupted by big money in the sense that the owners/shareholders are demanding return on investment which is the driving force of the corporation. The owners of most media are the wealthy people who stand to gain from tax policy that favors the rich. They are typically agnostic about social issues but they know what drives people to tune in. So, big money certainly corrupts media but not in a straight up simplistic way where a rich guy just gets better coverage because he gives money.

[hunter]

10. It's a good reason to quit television.

My wife and I quit more than a decade ago.

We don't suffer cable, satellite, or broadcast television. We never see any TV ads.

We subscribe to Netflix for $8.99 a month and watch DVDs. That's plenty of TV for us.

I don't want to support the industry that created Trump.