At a time when journalism is playing a more prevalent role in the information we have access to than ever before, it’s interesting to take a look at some of the new challenges facing the profession.

While the average person is more likely than ever before to be plugged into current events through journalism on the web, radio and in print, an interesting problem for the media as a whole has arisen.

As noted in this article that appears on fox news.com, “A new Harvard University study says nearly two-thirds of Americans do not trust campaign coverage by the news media — and more than 60 percent believe it is politically biased” (which is ironic enough given fox’s reputation for undermining the basic tenets of good journalism).

In other words, the main stream media is by and large distrusted by their audiences.

A multitude of factors have lead to this, not least of which is the conglomeration of the media. Now more than ever before, the nation’s news outlets are run by a small group of powerful corporate entities (i.e., Rupert Murdoch).

As the consolidation of the media occurs, the quality of the news we receive drops off because the reporting presented in the articles we read and view are more reflective of the corporate policies of the media outlet owners and advertisers.

On a smaller scale, this is demonstrated by the recent allegations of malfeasance and misconduct at the FCC in which the government agency is said to have destroyed a 2004 study on the implications of local media ownership. The study, which revealed that locally owned television stations provide more local news coverage, blatantly contradicts the FCC’s assertion that “commonly owned television stations are more likely to carry local news.”

Finally, if any one national event draws attention to this phenomenon more than any other, it is the upcoming presidential election.

The debates, which have been more like a circus act than an intellectual forum, are a strong example of how the media coverage often favors certain candidates over others in terms of time.

For example, take a look at the figures for the NBC GOP debate — some candidates weren’t even asked a question for a good 30 minutes into the debate.

illustration by Paul Gilligan