What Liberal Media Bias Is

(Note: we’re talking about “hard news” broadcast segments or newspaper articles, not “opinion” or “editorial” pieces …)

First, here’s what it isn’t –

It’s not Matt Lauer, Wolf Blitzer, David Gregory, or Katie Couric saying, “Hey America, vote for Obama, because that’s who I’m voting for!” It’s not the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today or any San Francisco printed publication saying, “Obama is the best choice for the best America possible and here’s why!”

It’s not even any of the above seriously and soberly intoning that the election of Mitt Romney would be a disaster greater than the Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, and the War Between the States combined.

No, it’s not as blatant and obvious as that. They need to maintain the illusion of neutrality.

“Liberal media bias,” at least how we conservatives see it, is more of an editorial bias, a bias in the words used and images conveyed depending upon the political affiliation of the person / group / event / book / movie / etc. in question.

For example:

Let’s say one of the presidential candidates makes an impromptu stop at a Big City rally and 5,000 people show up at an arena that holds 10,000. He gives a rousing speech thanking his supporters and asking for help to win the election.



You may read headlines that go something like this:



THOUSANDS FLOCK TO ARENA TO HEAR A THANKFUL OBAMA



Or you may read something like this:



ARENA HALF-FULL AS ROMNEY TRIES TO RALLY BASE



See? The situation’s the same. How it’s reported depends entirely on whether the person at the center has a D or an R after his name. This is what conservatives mean when they talk about a liberal media bias.

Now, I’ll admit that Fox News does similar stuff from the right in terms of this editorial bias. Whether it’s to the degree and frequency of the liberal media is something I don’t necessarily agree with. Also, you have the whole scale thing: one the right side, Fox News. On the left, ABC NBC CBS PBS CNN MSNBC BBC. Similarly (though not as lopsided) with newspapers.

Just something I was pondering driving into work this morning.

If I’m wrong, let me know why.