by Catherine Dreher

I’ve worked in and studied the media industry for 20 years, and I’ve become more and more upset and discouraged by the blatant, biased journalism surrounding this year’s election. America’s mainstream news media are unabashedly sympathetic toward the Democratic campaign.

Mainstream media also have a financial interest in the Obama campaign:

The PACs and individuals of large mainstream media organizations have contributed millions of dollars to the Obama campaign. For example, National Amusements, Inc. is the 7th top contributor to the Obama campaign; donating over $400,000. National Amusements, Inc. is one of the largest theatre chains around the world and is privately owned by Sumner Redstone and his family and is the parent company of both Viacom, Inc., and the CBS Corporation. Viacom and CBS own Paramount Communications, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Blockbuster Video, and Simon & Schuster.

Time Warner executives are top donors to the Obama campaign; contributing $375,000. Time Warner is one of the largest media groups in the world. Its media holdings include: CNN, Turner Broadcasting, AOL, Essence, People, Time, and many other magazines.

General Electric had been a steady Republican campaign supporter for over a decade until 2008 when it nearly doubled its funding to Democratic campaigning. GE is the parent company of NBC and MSNBC.

Microsoft Corp. had also been a steady Republican campaign supporter until 2004 when it doubled its funding to Democratic campaigns. In 2008, it contributed more than twice the amount to Democrats as Republicans. Since 1990, the media industry has donated two times more to Democratic campaigns than it has to Republican campaigns. This year it is 3-1. (http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=B02). Based on these figures, it looks like Democrats and Obama have the media wrapped around their collective finger. No wonder there is so much biased coverage of this election!

This bias in reporting not only misleads Americans, but it does a disservice to our democracy. As Americans, deserve fair, unbiased and accurate coverage during this important election time. Our media will tell us that’s what they’re giving us, but we know better.