The Paradox of News Bias: How Local Broadcasters Influence Information Policy

Abstract

The extent to which broadcasters' control over local TV programming affects politicians' behavior, particularly with regard to the creation of information policy, is investigated. Informed by principal-agent theory, it is claimed that a "paradox of news bias" currently exists between local broadcasters & viewers. An overview of high- & low-information reasoning used by politicians to determine the objectivity of media outlets emphasizes local broadcasters' strategies for overcoming claims of media bias. Noting the difficulties that politicians may experience in uncovering media bias, a rational choice perspective is employed to demonstrate how local broadcasters act opportunistically while preventing viewers & politicians from uncovering such behavior. Based on the negotiations surrounding the 1996 Telecommunications Act, a detailed framework for gathering evidence of news media influence over information policymaking is provided. Various directions for future research are also offered, eg, studying the influence of an entire industry, not individual companies, upon policymaking. 2 Figures. J. W. Parker