The Push And Pull Over Press Bias

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: 4th Estate Debate

(AP)

Bruce Bartlett, writing in the conservative National Review Online, has written the kind of piece that one rarely sees these days: One that tries to take an evenhanded and non-hysterical look at the issue of media bias.

Bartlett notes that charges of media bias used to come almost exclusively from the right; today, "[w]hile conservatives still believe that the major media are biased against them, one hears more and more criticism coming from the left." He argues that the media used to exhibit a left-wing bias, but that this bias has largely disappeared. And that, he claims, is what has liberals upset – they've lost their advantage. Well, that and the fact that "conservatives have become better at using the media, taking advantage of its institutional biases to spin stories in conservative directions."

I'm not endorsing Bartlett's position, though it sure is nice to read a discussion of this issue that goes beyond "the msm is liberal/conservative/corrupt/run by a cabal of Jewish financiers who live at the center of the earth."

In commenting on the story, NRO's Stephen Spruiell noted that the Politico recently opened up its editorial process in response to complaints from the liberal media critics at Media Matters. "Most of Media Matters' criticisms were baseless and silly, but some were justified," wrote Spruiell. "[I]n any case, the transparency of the process was to the benefit of readers and helped build Politico's credibility."

Paul McLeary at CJR, meanwhile, who I am compelled to point out is "my friend and former colleague," found a few things in Bartlett's piece to like. But he also had his problems with it. To wit: "What Bartlett is essentially calling for is a massive spin war between ideological enemies, with the remnants of the intellectually honest press caught in the middle, taking heat -- and spin -- from both sides. This doesn't sound like something that will further the interests of good journalism."

At the end of his piece, Bartlett advises his "liberal friends to stop whining about media bias," advice that both sides could surely benefit from. But we all know that's not going to happen. The media bias debate is sort of like a schoolyard tug of war, with media in the middle and liberals and conservatives both trying desperately to pull it in their direction. They even fund organizations to drive the bias drumbeat and help their cause. It's a political battle not much different than those over any hot-button issue. And the "whining," as Bartlett must know, is simply one more tactic in the effort to win the day.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by bmidji March 15, 2007 7:33 PM EDT: "it sure is nice to read a discussion of this issue that goes beyond "the msm is liberal/conservative/corrupt/run by a cabal of Jewish financiers who live at the center of the earth."

Wow, Montopoli, that's an impressive straw man you're building.; Reply to this comment


by ronmwanga March 15, 2007 12:39 AM EDT: k-sozer makes a good point. It is not inconceiveable that the very nature of being a part of the Establishment Left-of-Centerizes a person. The bias can be called, but little, it seems, can be done to change it. Does David Brooks really make a change of the editorial voice of the Op-Ed? Only through competition can the bias be met and counteracted. Say what you will about Fox, but it met a felt need and is now a serious player, politically and culturally. And it was done through competition, a Republican virtue, not whining. Although i have my differences: Kudos.; Reply to this comment


by ronmwanga March 15, 2007 12:36 AM EDT: never felt there was a Left bias in the media. leftists are almost never Establishment figures. Leftists don't compromise and probably wouldn't participate in an executive power role. The bias has always been slightly left of Center. Certainly the New York Times is vaguely Left of Center, or, roughly, Centrist a la Time's Klein. The "Left," as characterized by The Nation and even Moveon.org is about as far out in the political wilderness as the Right. What surprises me is that considering all the political positions in the political wilderness in these Unites States -- the paleocons of "The American Conservative", the Libertarians, the Progressives, Conservatives -- that that tiny group, the Left-of-Center, have held onto their position until Web 2.0.; Reply to this comment


by forthepeaple March 14, 2007 11:28 PM EDT: i have something to say to bruce and brian, and i hope they take this the right way.How about helping americans with finding out the truth.I have ask for time on tv radio and any news paper that would take a story of a normal average american that want wants to run for president for the people of this united states of america.but because i have no money,and i'm not a dem or rep no one wants to help me change washington..there should only be one party in washington the party for americans.a party that will protect all america and all of her americans.i want to have a debate with all presidentual hopefulls in front of america and this debate would be no hold bars no one would know what questions would be asked of them and it would be done in a very large place that could handle 100,000 or more of americans just normal americans asking questions to all.and before we would start everyone would be asked if you had to vote right now who would you vote for. then after the three hour debate ask the question again i know i would be right at the top.you know why because i have nothing to hide about that i have done in washington. so lets talk.for-america@hotmail.com and lets see who if you all want to help america.....thank you, david a belanger for president.,,; Reply to this comment


by one_american March 14, 2007 7:28 PM EDT: %u201CThe liberal media are promoting the agenda of liberal Democrats on this attorneys%u2019 issue, and the double standard, the rank hypocrisy is evident for the world to see. This type of grossly slanted coverage only further erodes the credibility of the networks and the top newspapers.%u201D

- Brent Bozell, President Media Research Center

I don't think you or CBS afford the erosion of credibility, Brian.; Reply to this comment


by one_american March 14, 2007 7:25 PM EDT: %u201CThe liberal media are promoting the agenda of liberal Democrats on this attorneys%u2019 issue, and the double standard, the rank hypocrisy is evident for the world to see. This type of grossly slanted coverage only further erodes the credibility of the networks and the top newspapers.%u201D

- Brent Bozell, President Media Research Center

I don't think you CBS afford the erosion of credibility, Brian.; Reply to this comment


by k-sozer March 14, 2007 5:03 PM EDT: I agree that whining is pointless. More important that everyone vote with their feet, or the TV remote, as the case may be.

Fox has proved that in the cable TV space, the conservative viewer was underserved, and appealing to that viewer (essentially with no competition) has made them number one among cable news networks.

I believe that conservatives are similarly underserved by the broadcast network news, and that there is a great opportunity for the organization that "gets it" first. So far, no one has.; Reply to this comment