MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AND POLITICAL BIAS PUZZLE: VIEW OF WORKING JOURNALISTS

Abstract

This era is ‘information age’, now a days problem is not to access information but to get authentic and objective information. Media organizations have immense power to control and shape the information in the form of news. Media users perceive the news stories as impartial but it is evident that news are politically biased. This study examines the role of media organizations and their influence in creating politically biased news content. Implying the third level of influences (Organizational Level) from Hierarchy of Influences Model as theoretical framework, this survey research from working journalists of largest media groups of Pakistan revealed that media organizations have a substantial impact on news reporting and cause political bias. The editorial policy of media organizations along with the guidelines from owners is the biggest source of political bias. Results of this study highlight the need for transparency and accountability in media practices.