Per the online quiz, my best fit is as a “Young Outsider.” Basically, this means that my
view is a mix of both conservative and liberal. I am part of the 13% of people this group
represents. One choice I was given was between “The country has gone too far in its efforts to
protect the environment” and “The country should do whatever it takes to protect the
environment.” The options threw me for a loop because I was conflicted between the two.
With the first choice, I agreed. But I also feel that these efforts have gone partly in vain. With
the second option, I do believe the country should do what it needs to but I feel like it is done
out of statistical forecast and not necessarily based on the needs of the people. When it is
taken too far, this is where the first option occurs. Personally, I’ve always been conflicted with
my political views so this quiz only confirmed that it is normal and not necessarily wrong that I
don’t consider myself to be either conservative or liberal.
Mass media in the form of print and broadcast media has the power to reach billions.
Even though all media may not appeal to everyone, the impression still stands. Print media
includes newspapers and magazines and has been around for centuries. Broadcast media
include television and radio. The internet encompasses both types and is readily available in the
palm of our hands. Many forms of media demonstrate favor of one point of view or political
ideology that is portrayed through their slanting of the news to convey their bias. When too
much opinion is added to news stories, the amount of credibility is taken away. The Huffington
Post is a perfect example of one of these mainstream media sources.
The Huffington Post doesn’t provide news from a primary source. Instead, authors use other
news sources and link to it. Their liberal leaning influences their selection of stories as well as
the contributors they allow to post on their site. Most of which, are met with disgust from
commenters who are appalled by their use of loaded language and heavily opinionated story-
telling. It is not a good example to learn American politics from this site because it does not
demonstrate what American politics should stand for in our country when important issues