How have researchers studied the question of media bias? Discuss the relative effectiveness of their methods. What does their evidence suggest regarding whether the media is biased or not?

What will be an ideal response?

An ideal response will:
1, Explain how researchers have relied on anecdotal evidence, self-assessment of political attitudes of the individuals associated with the media (journalists), and content analysis of the media itself, in their study of media bias
2, Discuss whether these methods have been effective, noting that anecdotal evidence is the least effective.
3, Explain that the answer to the question of whether the media is biased depends in part upon what method is used to find the answer. Anecdotal evidence provides a mixed story; self-assessment indicates that journalists are more liberal but does not indicate that it results in a bias in content; and content analysis does not reflect ideological bias, but it does indicate gatekeeper bias, statement bias, and coverage bias.