WaPo: “We Need More Conservatives”
I have to admit, it is at the very least encouraging to see that the Washington Post (here) not only sees a problem but also attempts to find a remedy for the problem. I would love comments on this one. Read more.
Tom Rosenstiel, a former political reporter who directs the Project for Excellence in Journalism, said, “The perception of liberal bias is a problem by itself for the news media. It’s not okay to dismiss it. Conservatives who think the press is deliberately trying to help Democrats are wrong. But conservatives are right that journalism has too many liberals and not enough conservatives. It’s inconceivable that that is irrelevant.”
Encouraging too is the reason for the sudden change in heart. Once again its the marketplace, good old fashioned capitalism, that is the driving force behind this mea maxima culpa (sorry, I’m an old alter boy at heart).
It pains me to see lost subscribers and revenue, especially when newspapers are shrinking. Conservative complaints can be wrong: The mainstream media were not to blame for John McCain‘s loss; Barack Obama‘s more effective campaign and the financial crisis were.
What angers and disappoints me though is that the WaPo and the NY “Democrat” Times have been aware of this bias for years if not decades and it took people canceling subscriptions and voting with their wallets before they took notice. Two questions remains. Is the Post too late to recover, and will the NY Times even admit a problem?
It did not take this Pew research poll here and here to make even the casual observer aware of an out of control bias in coverage. Commentators and opinion writers are always the exception. But when such opinions are displayed with regularity among the editorial staff (reporters) its either time for a change or face extinction. The Washington Post at least understands this. For my more than 20 years in journalism I found myself to be a lone conservitarian crying in the wilderness and unafraid to do so in the newsroom as well. And yet only one news director I worked for ever admitted to the problem, even though liberal view were blatant in regular newsroom conversation and in my opinion in coverage, either through story selection or reporting at large.
What also angers me is that it comes after the election. Their candidate safely ensconced, there is little need to continue the charade and now, in a rather belated attempt to recover a shred of credibility among a shrinking subscriber base, the WaPo says … oops, my bad.
11 Comments
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The Ironic thing about a liberal press is that their whole existence is guaranteed through the constitution which in some countries where liberals have come to power it is usually the first thing they try to mute(of which I doubt it will happen here) . It will be interesting to see how long the honeymoon will last when things don't turn out as some have hoped for. Remember politicians say alot and do little. Time and patience is the best friend if the conservative movement right now and the need to rid ourselves of Rinos and liberal lights.
"What also angers me is that it comes after the election. Their candidate safely ensconced, there is little need to continue the charade and now, in a rather belated attempt to recover a shred of credibility among a shrinking subscriber base, the WaPo says … oops, my bad."
We knew that was coming. Wasn't it Rush who warned about this?
Are you suggesting that the NYT is losing subscribers due to their slight left leaning bias? That is just silly. People don't read that paper anymore. I get my NYT on audible every day. No ads!! People get news from the net. About 10 years ago I used to get the Courant. But stopped because it's usually old news by the time I read it.
-Erik
To start with your last paragraph, it angers me as well. It's disingenuous to suddenly be introspective and apologetic about any bias you've been denying all along. But it's safe now because they've achieved their goals at any cost and now figure that a few mea culpas will pull the shroud back over their obvious agenda. But could it turn out to be, be careful what you wish for?
And will the fairness doctrine acknowledge any of this sudden admission of a one-sided press? Are they trying now to rewrite the story of what just took place?
And O's better-run campaign was not the only reason McCain lost; it definitely was the press pushing their own candidate and dissing the other.
So stop the false apologies. It's smarmy and insulting to think that any conservatarian who just witnessed this election cycle will offer them forgiveness for a few moments of their self-flagellation.
Barb … there I go again … looking for the best in people. LOL Actually I was kind sorta hopin it meant a change … my guess its nothing more than an ooops … "I promise Mom, I will be better" kinda a moment … my guess is u r right.
<del datetime="2008-11-17T00:39:34+00:00">Steve</del> Sorry … Eric … I am suggesting its part of the reason … when you alienate 48% of your audience… they tend to go elsewhere … a fact the WaPo seemingly confirms in this article.
Actually I think the press would survive better if they just announced that they are liberal or conservative instead of saying things like all the news fit to print. At least they would be truthful and truthfulness goes a long way.
When I graduated college, in 2006, I was told don't even bother trying to make a career in journalism. You're too conservative and Big Media is tanking.
At my college newspaper, we were fortunate to have an old-school advisor from The Washington Post, who had very traditional views about the practice of journalism.
From what I can tell, much of the blame for media bias lies with liberal editors who make the story assignments.
Too many reporters have become sycophants. The problem with the 2008 campaign was not that the press was too hard on McCain and Palin. No, the press erred in giving Obama and Biden far too many free passes. To this day, Dan Quayle is ridiculed for spelling potato, "P-O-T-A-T-O-E". Yet, Joe Biden has gotten a free past for citing a "three letter word, J-O-B-S".
Emphasis on the journalistic craft has been at expense to subject matter expertise. All to often the Metro Desk / Local News Section has become a training ground for rookie reporters who circulated in and out every couple of years. Business and Religion are other areas often covered by reports lacking subject matter expertise. This kind of ameteurism would never be tolerated in sports reporters!
Let's see Big Media do more to recruit conservatives into their newsrooms and onto their editorial pages. "The steam that blew the whistle never turned the wheel."
To me, Erik's comment of the NYTimes having a "slightly left leaning bias" exemplifies the problem.
As a not so casual observer of the past six presidential elections, I have seen this paper, and others like it, descend further and further to the left. This election was so bad that even usually impartial or disinterested individuals I have questions remarked on the rather blatant and outrageous level of pro-Obama, pro left bias that was being unapologetically demonstrated. No polls necessary. Even some Democrats were shaking their heads.
Just look at the level of disinterest in Obama's past compared with the political body cavity searches Palin and Joe the plumber received. Look at Brokaw on Charlie Rose and see him actually say that he doesn't know anything about Obama! Yet even this sage of the newsroom is not horrified by that fact. We found out more about Obama from foreign news sources than our own!
See any coverage of the illegal ACORN voting or fraudulent web based donation schemes of the Obama campaign? Even now, after the election is secured for Obama? No, it was left to the actions of college newspaper writers at Palestra.net to scrape the thin veneer off of Obama's campaign and see the felonious ugliness that lay beneath.
When it happens all the time, it isn't anecdotal, and it sure isn't coincidence. It is an ethical crime that runs counter to everything the media claims to stand for.
It is sickening and disheartening.
Ok….first step is admitting there's a problem. But what will follow here will not be the change we are looking for. This conspiracy theorist predicts that one after another, various news outlets will admit to having a "slight bias" (its already happening). To add insult to injury democrats in Congress will then promptly address the problem by passing Fairness Doctrine legislation, in the name of "equal time" of course. Those who actually believe WaPo's admission is a step toward real fair and objective news coverage is delusional at best. Anyone that cares enough will get their news elsewhere. The rest of America will remain blinded by the liberal media's disgraceful propaganda. One a side note- one doesn't have to stretch the imagination too far to envision a scenario where tax payers bail out failing news organizations. So go ahead and cancel your subscriptions, but sooner or later you just might be paying anyway.
What is next, bailouts for the MSM? Why not? Full liberal employment is necessary for our survival
Hey, Jim —
I hope you weren't thinking I was telling YOU to stop apologizing. Then that would be my bad. It was just a general comment referring to the MSM. It was my objection to their doing one thing, even though they knew they weren't being honest, and then to turn around an offer apologies for something they said they weren't doing! I don't think that should gain them ANY brownie points!
Sorry if I was confusing. Sometimes hard to include all the proper nuance and emotion in a two-dimentional medium.