Chapter 1

1. Tyler Cohen argues that the media are trying to give customers what they want, nothing more. After reading the viewpoints of Cohen and Sheila Gribben Liaugminas, do you believe that the media have responsibilities beyond attracting and pleasing their paying customers? What might such responsibilities be? Do consumers of media have responsibilities as well? Explain.
2. E.J. Dionne makes a distinction between social and cultural issues, in which he contends the media may be liberal, and economic issues, in which the media favor conservative views. What examples of bias in each area does he provide? Do you believe such a distinction helps in analyzing media bias? Why or why not? Is a similar distinction made in the viewpoints by Pat Buchanan, William McGowan, and others in the chapter, or are cultural and economic issues lumped together? Explain.
3. Pamela Newkirk uses stories from her...