Column of the Day: Michael Barone

Weekly Example of Media Bias   —   Posted on April 5, 2006

Even I’m surprised at this little exchange Michael Barone* reports he had:

I remember a conversation I had with a broadcast news executive many years ago.

“Doesn’t the fact that 90 percent of your people are Democrats affect your work product?” I asked.

“Oh, no, no,” he said. “Our people are professional. They have standards of objectivity and professionalism, so that their own views don’t affect the news.”

“So what you’re saying,” I said, “is that your work product would be identical if 90 percent of your people were Republicans.”

He quickly replied, “No, then it would be biased.”

I have been closely acquainted with newsroom cultures for more than 30 years, and I recognize the attitude. Only liberals can see the world clearly. Conservatives are prevented by their warped and ungenerous views from recognizing the world as it is.

*Michael Barone is a senior writer for U.S.News & World Report….He has written for many publications including the Economist and the New York Times.

For the complete posting, go to NewsBusters.org.