Reps Smith, Kingston And Bachmann Launch Media Fairness Caucus
Press Release
Reps Smith, Kingston and Bachmann Launch Media Fairness Caucus
Congressman Lamar Smith today officially launched the Congressional Media Fairness Caucus (MFC), along with Congressman Jack Kingston and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who will serve as caucus co-chairs.
The purpose of the MFC is not to censor or condemn, but to encourage the media to adhere to the highest standards of reporting and to provide the American people with the facts, balanced stories and fair coverage of the news.
"If the American people don't get the facts, they can't make good decisions. And if the American people can't make good decisions, then our republic is threatened," said Smith. "At their best, the media are an asset to our democratic process. Unfortunately, too often the media have fallen short. Through the Media Fairness Caucus, Members of Congress will utilize their own First Amendment rights to confront media bias and to encourage American citizens to do the same."
Through floor statements, op-eds, social networking, and other channels, members of the MFC will work to highlight media bias at the national level, promote an open dialogue between national media and elected officials, and encourage the American people to become engaged and educated consumers of media.
Smith cited the following examples of the existence of media bias:
A UCLA study rated 18 of 20 major news outlets as more liberal than the average American voter. Just two scored as more conservative than the average voter.
A Gallup poll found that only 9 percent of Americans say they have a great deal of trust and confidence in the mass media to report the news "fully, accurately, and fairly." The Gallup poll also found that more than twice as many Americans say the news media are too liberal rather than too conservative.
A study by the nonpartisan Center for Media and Public Affairs found that network news programs gave President Obama more than three times the coverage that they gave former President George W. Bush early in his presidency.
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