Final answer:
Democrats typically believe the media has a conservative bias, while Republicans often perceive a liberal bias in the media. News outlets like MSNBC and Fox News are seen to represent these biases respectively, influencing public opinion and contributing to partisan polarization.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, Democrats think the media favor conservative views, and Republicans think the media favor liberal views. The perception of media bias is that news reporting institutions carry a slant that is either liberal or conservative, depending on the reader's or viewer's own political affiliations. While professional journalists strive to report news fairly and objectively, ownership and operational changes in media organizations have influenced their focus on issues. Moreover, media consumption patterns reinforce these perceptions of bias, as audiences gravitate toward outlets that align with their viewpoints, such as Fox News for Republicans and MSNBC for Democrats.
Polarization in the media is evident with cable/satellite news organizations: MSNBC is perceived to carry a more liberal bias, Fox News a more conservative bias, and CNN maintains a more moderate perspective. The tendency to combine reporting with editorial commentary has also become more accepted, and this represents a shift in television journalism. Major news outlets focus on similar stories but may vary in their coverage based on the outlet's editorial stance.
The increasing negativity in media's campaign coverage and the framing of political stories also contribute to the perception of bias. During the 2012 campaign, MSNBC and FOX News were noted for their highly negative coverage of opposing political candidates, indicating a use of bias in how stories are framed.