This page was last updated on July 30, 2010.
Paper’s bias shows in Obama coverage; Dick Lasse; Beaver County Times; July 30, 2010.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“The Times practices bias in its reporting, editorials, and political cartoons.
“When George W. Bush was in office, daily accounting of soldiers killed in action was highlighted. Bush was called Hitler, stupid and other unattractive names.
“Since Obama has been in office, we see no combat casualties listed and no poor editorials about Obama. Are you ashamed to write the truth about Obama and the socialist/leftist-leaning administration he has appointed, and the rapid fall into debt?
“Also, take a look at our progress (lack of) in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I am worried.”
[RWC] I don’t worry about bias in “editorials, and political cartoons” because we expect them to express opinion, not fact. The only problem with “bias” (and it’s not really bias) in op-ed pieces is when they present falsehoods as fact, and the Times is guilty of this. My concern about media bias is when it comes to alleged news stories. Most of us were taught and conditioned to expect news stories to be “the facts and nothing but the facts.” That, of course, is not reality. Let’s use “reporting” of illegal immigration as an example.
How many “news stories” have you heard/read/seen label people who oppose illegal immigration as “anti-immigrant?” How many “news stories” have you heard/read/seen refer to “undocumented immigrants” instead of illegal aliens? How many “news stories” have you heard/read/seen label the Arizona immigration law (SB 1070) which mirrors federal law as “controversial,” “tough,” et cetera? How many “news stories” have you heard/read/seen claim the Arizona immigration law allows police officers to “walk up to anyone and demand to see their papers?” Heck, even President Obama spoke that lie. All of this is bias intended to shape your opinion and position.
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