LIBERAL MEDIA: A BOGEYMAN

Do the media have a liberal bias?

My contribution: [Sent to the Seattle Times, not printed, 08-02-06]

LIBERAL MEDIA A BOGEYMAN

Is there a liberal media bias? That depends on what your definition of bias is. Ring any bells? Maybe enough said. My view is that there is an anti-reality bias and maybe even conservatives could agree. We just don’t agree on presenting reality. Defined in Encarta as: an unfair preference or dislike for something. That leaves us with the disagreement over what is fair. I guess it is fair that both syndicated columnists blamed the people.

The odd thing is that the conservative believes for all people that "newsworthy events" are seen through their own belief systems but that she does not shape the news. By expecting that news reporters must balance the news; that reality is balanced, is itself a bias. Her belief and that of other conservatives creates a bias that the media is supposed to be balanced, when reality is not. Not any more than that two columnists from Harvard represents balance or Harvard, would more good news represent reality.

With just a little less bias from conservatives and less fear of bias from the media, we probably "couldn’t handle the truth." Just because there is so much bad news, does not mean it is liberal bias. The unfairness in that Clinton was impeached and that headlines don’t hold congress and the administration more accountable, may be my bias. But that does not mean that the media facing more reality and doing their jobs would not feed the myth that they are too liberal. A myth that keeps reality from changing our course. A culture of fear needs a bogeyman.