From: jswitzer@afit.af.mil (Chip Switzer)
Subject: Liberal Bias Example
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 14:23:15 GMT


   Of all forms of bias in the media, this is an example of the worst.  The 
kind where, unless you have some other source and receive a balance, you 
will never even know it *was* bias.
   Front page headline (Aug 22) in Dayton Daily News (article from Knight-
Ridder): 

                     "ANALYSTS DOUBT BUSH PLAN WILL FLY.  

   The package of tax and spending cuts Pres. Bush called for in his nomination 
acceptance speech Thursday is far more likely to be shaded toward tax cuts 
and cause an increase in the U.S. budget deficit, analysts said Friday.  
   [Quite a few more paragraphs of the same... I'm not going to type in the 
entire article just so somebody won't accuse me of leaving out the part that 
praises Bush--dream on.]
   [Last paragraph] Brusca [Nikko Securities International] also said that 
Bush's plan overall "doesn't make sense either from an accounting standpoint 
or an economic standpoint.  It just doesn't add up..." 

   This approach betrays the underlying political bias of the reporter.  
"Analysts say..."  What analysts?!  The ones this reporter listens to and 
deems reliable.  Hmmm, could a propensity toward liberal ideas possibly skew 
a reporter's feelings about who he deems a reliable source?  Probably not 
going to look to that looney bin, the Heritage Foundation for any second 
opinions...  
   And how do I know there *were* dissenting opinions among analysts?  CNN, 
that same day relayed the story this way: "There were mixed reactions to the 
President's economic plans.  Liberal economists tending to think it was a bad 
idea, while conservative economists believed it was what the country needed."  
   If you are going to reply to this, *please* keep to the subject.  Replies 
that are basically, "But the plan *is* hogwash!  It's not biased because I 
agree with it..." need not, unless you care to reveal your ignorance of 
exactly what we are discussing.
   Also, for all of you who can't quite figure out how or why the above was
considered "biased", how would you have reacted to the following:

                      BUSH PLAN MAY BE THE KEY, ANALYSTS SAY
   The package of tax and spending cuts Pres. Bush called for in his nomination 
acceptance speech Thursday would likely be a boost to the sluggish economy by 
returning capital to the public where it can create jobs, analysts said Friday.
[And you've also heard the CNN broadcast mentioned above]

DISCLAIMER FOR THE LOGICALLY CHALLENGED: The above does not constitute a proof
that the news media is generally liberally biased.  It is an *example* of it.  
Please look around and see if you can find more of it...


Chip Switzer                            "A witty saying proves nothing." 
jswitzer@afit.af.mil                              -- Voltaire 
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From: deanc@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com (Dean Cashen)
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 17:21:28 GMT
Subject: Re: Critique of Olympics coverage
Organization: Hewlett Packard - Boise, ID