Talk:Media Research Center

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I'm wondering about how (or if) to include the MRC's self-described mission and history. That seems perhaps more relevant than a legal action in which they were involved.

"The mission of the Media Research Center is to bring balance and responsibility to the news media. Leaders of America's conservative movement have long believed that within the national news media a strident liberal bias existed that influenced the public's understanding of critical issues. On October 1, 1987, a group of young determined conservatives set out to not only prove - through sound scientific research - that liberal bias in the media does exist and undermines traditional American values, but also to neutralize its impact on the American political scene. What they launched that fall is the now acclaimed --- Media Research Center (MRC)"

My concern is this - when a determined group of people have an end in mind which they intend to prove, even the best scientists have a way of making sure that is what they prove. It's called "experimentor bias" in the social sciences. The MRC is high profile and I'm sure believe that their findings are evenly balanced, but with a pre-determined assertion, finding evidence to back it up is usually not hard.

I'm not advocating discrediting this organization (that would be POV in the extreme), just including facts about their mission and funding - it's important and pertinent information which any person should know before taking as fact the findings of any organization. I would welcome thoughts and comments on the matter. --ABQCat 00:46, 14 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Dear sir. Please don't edit my edits based on npov without providing under which auspice you are referring to. The NPOV neutral language as I've read states that factual information is not subject to POV. The above quote is factual(also it's from their own site) and does not violate NPOV. The edit I made was directly from the meta description of MRC website and it's been clearly recognized by most major news that MRC is a conservative group. --dis- 13:38, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Contents 1 funding 2 about 3 MMFA 4 "However, to this day, the MRC continues to promote the idea that the WWE holds a liberal media bias." 5 someone rip into this please 6 Please ... 7 Intro

[edit] funding

In this edit, the words

funded almost entirely by Richard Mellon Scaife

were removed. Why? If the information is correct, it should be in the article. If not, it would still be desirable to have a true description of its financial sources. regards, High on a tree 03:08, 22 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] about

The about media research center information should be included. However I already added their meta name=description from their website. Though I do think their "about us" is more appropriate.

+_+_+_+_

I'm quite disappointed. This entry has obviously been written by someone who does not like this organization. I personally have made a number of small adjustments, including making the language more neutral. I have also added examples of typical content that MRC produces. Someone has erased them twice. The person who wrote this entry has totally focused on negativity ("Controversies," "Criticisms") without giving any examples of typical MRC content. The writer has not been fair to MRC. This is a good example of why Wikipedia is building a reputation as a source which has an anti-conservative, pro-liberal bias. Fair and honest changes are made, and then they are erased. That is not cool. (1-13-07) 71.107.222.197 18:02, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

1-15-07 - I have re-formatted this entry so it is less biased. The entry now contains "examples of content" AND "controversies" and "criticisms." I also changed the biased language of the opener so its language is neutral. 71.107.222.197 02:07, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] MMFA

I do not understand why a link to Media Matters is offered on this page. Whoever posted the link needs to offer an explanation beside the link telling readers why its there and what its purpose is. Otherwise, I may delete. Please advise.

It is an organization which provides a similar function from the opposite side of the political spectrum. Gamaliel 04:03, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

I realize that. However, I do not think that a link to an organization dedicated to the opposite cause of the original organization being discussed is needed. Perhaps it would be more fitting if someone created a "Criticisms" section of this page that included a few of the criticisms that MMFA has offered on their website. Until then, I do not think that it is helpful. Until someone creates a criticisms section including MMFA critiques, I think it will be best for me to delete the link.

It would be a very sad day when they deleted any chance for the Americans to question the right wing conservative control of the media. This site is far worse even than Fox News with its constant one side attacks of clinton and any liberal candidates, Ie. Gore, Obama, etc. They even attack science just as the White House would not allow scientists to publish their knowledge of global warming.

[edit] "However, to this day, the MRC continues to promote the idea that the WWE holds a liberal media bias."

Needless to say, I think someone else put this up for humor. While very funny, I think it needs to go. Any others seeing something in it that I'm not?

[edit] someone rip into this please

http://newsbusters.org/node/3465

Why? Is Wikipedia a liberal blog or is it presenting the FACTS on the MRC and Newsbusters? Equinox137 07:47, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

MRC and Newsbusters are good at exposing Democrats, but they always turn a blind eye when Republicans screw up and when it's time to expose them. That's why it's worth mentioning in the article. Ericster08 (talk) 02:36, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Please ...

I have re-written this entry so it is less biased. The entry had obviously been written by someone who has a bias against MRC. I have changed the biased language of the opening line. I have also added "examples of content," yet "controversies" and "criticisms" still remain. Wikipedia needs to be more neutral in its content of conservative voices. Very sadly, Wiki is building a reputation as a source of liberally slanted information. The previous MRC entry was a good example of that. Thank you. I appreciate any feedback. HonestAndFair 17:15, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

Newsbusters.org generally only allows neoconservatives to leave their comments. They will not be satisfied until they totally control the media.

Here is a typical comment left by homophobic neoconservatives that has nothing to do with global warming but their hatred and fear(disguised by insults) of Al Gore:

" February 26, 2007 - 22:56 Thanks for reminding me about this, Schmidt...... I heard from Brother Rhayes the other day. He had just received his marching orders from Pat Robertson and was heading out to East LA to preach the Word and drive the demons from the Vampires when he told me something profound. He said that he was profoundly mistaken about the "neocons." He also, for the first time, was being counseled by Brother Pat in private about his affinity for "other men." I told him that I couldn't relate to that, but that I was happy that he was facing his sin head on with Brother Pat. Rhayes also confessed to me that he found Al Gore "hot" and that he knew that was wrong and wanted the forgiveness of the Lord. Rhayes told me that he struggled with "Gore's sexiness". He felt really bad. I reminded Rhayes that he was pathetic in terms of his worldview. He told me that he's "trying" to change. I'm glad. BTW, he told me that Jesus Camp was tool of Satan

If a so called liberal (disagrees with Bush's neocon philosophy) would make the same gay slur, they would be banned. This site has a double standard in regards to media. They feel that the truth or facts is liberal bias.

"It has also accused Wikipedia of a liberal bias, and claims that it "habitually delivers unflattering content about conservative media figures while giving liberals a much lighter treatment." Dave Pierre of the MRC has claimed that the Wikipedia article on the Media Research Center is slanted against their organization. [3]"

If anyone checks out newsbusters, which has recently been removed from wickipedia (fear of unflattering comments?(facts), you will find that any time anyone criticizes the neocon philosophy of the site, the blogger is banned. Neocons have a tendency to spin any fact about our present administration to the way they want it to sound. A prime example is Fox news. This organization hates the term neoconservative, and so now recently since the label has come into vogue with much of the country, the term might soon be also deleted from wickipedia. I worry about the constant intimidation of journalists from this very right wing organization that won't be happy until they have full control of the media the way Russia did in the past and still does.

They wrote the book on banning users who post comments with opposing views. They are also classic spin artists with a total disregard for honesty.

"My attorney contacted Wikipedia by email demanding the removal of this false entry. No response. So we edited out the offensive material ourselves, after which in writing counsel alerted Wikipedia to the legal action that might befall them should this be repeated. Here’s full disclosure, Wikipedia-style: You can see how each article is altered, sometimes hour by hour, in its "History" section. But there is no mention of the attorney’s complaints. In the Goldberg article’s history, an editor simply now scolds: "Bozell's article is a mock-jealous swipe at Goldberg's opportunism. PLEASE REREAD IT." (Capitals theirs.)" This is from Brent Bozell in Newsbusters threatening intimidation of anyone that puts out facts they don't want us to see!

now these neocons want to intimidate the blogosphere with lawsuits and they whine about the liberal media. they wont be happy until they totally control all info like did in communist russis!

This entire entry should read - Like media matters but without the factual content, the MRC was formed to prove that Rosie O'donnel leans to the left, and that Jerry Falwell was a kind old soul. Any conservative who reads this site should be offended that the left has an effective report like Media Matters and the right has this joke of a website. 68.12.224.100 15:53, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

"HonestAndFair", you seem to fall prey to the same type of thinking that MRC itself is based upon: assuming that just because a statement or report is critical of them or otherwise reflects negatively upon their positions, it must be bias. This type of thinking ignores an essential point: sometimes an accurate reporting of the facts will reflect negatively on a person, group, and/or ideological position. That's not a sign of bias, it's a sign of that person, group, and/or ideological position being wrong. — Red XIV ^(talk) 08:22, 4 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Intro

Per Rhino7628's request, I am discussing on talk before reverting this edit by that user (even though they did not feel compelled to discuss on talk before making the original change). I'm reverting one more time (actually someone else has done it already) because the intro as rewritten by Rhino is no good. If that user wants to move the label "conservative" out of the first sentence so be it. But the rewritten version reads like an advert for the group (and also trails off before finishing the thought). Background info about conservative leaders believing the media has a liberal bias does not belong in the intro. Comments like "young determined conservatives" and "acclaimed" (though the thought is not finished there) are not NPOV and do not belong here. The idea that the MRC does "scientific research" is absurd (just as the idea that Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting does scientific research would be absurd--these are media watchdog groups who watch the media). Anyhow another user has reverted already but here's an explanation to Rhino for what it's worth.--Bigtimepeace | talk | contribs 20:49, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Since you have made it clear that you are going to oppose any suggestion by myself or anyone else on these boards whose opinion differs from yours, I'm going to rely on you to suggest a compromise. Please suggest. I am awaiting your reply. If you have not compromise to suggest, then please stop reverting my edits. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Rhino7628 (talk • contribs) 21:21, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

You're wildly mischaracterizing my view. I explained above why your changes do not work. You are just as capable of suggesting a compromise as I am--this is not my burden. You are the only person pushing this right now and several other people (not just me) are reverting you. The intro as you have rewritten it is just bad writing (again, you don't finish your sentence) and not NPOV so I am reverting it again. I believe you have also now violated WP:3RR. Thanks for coming to the talk page though, whereas before you were demanding that everyone else discuss on talk whilst you reverted as much as you pleased.--Bigtimepeace | talk | contribs 22:07, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

I have tried once, twice, multiple times to give you the chance to sound objective, but you obviously cannot. This is no longer worth my time. Enjoy your one-sided views in peace. You have the option to prove to me otherwise by editing the intro., but we all know that will never happen. Peace out. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Rhino7628 (talk • contribs) 22:13, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

The intro should note its status as a "501(c)(3) non-profit organization". 151.203.224.233 (talk) 07:14, 4 April 2008 (UTC)Jax