Sunday, June 28, 2009

Reader email on bias at McClatchy and across the mainstream media (updated)

I often wonder if journalists realize how deeply the public -- especially the 50 million who voted for John McCain -- mistrusts their political coverage.

A reader emailed me, expressing frustration that is probably shared by millions of Americans.

... financials aside, a major problem with McClatchy and other “mainstream” news providers is their blindness to their lack of even-handed treatment of the news as it pertains to politics. What is important to most editors and “writers” (just when did reporter change to writer?), does not reflect the values of the general public! The left slant is obvious to even liberals.


In my own ongoing battle with the Sacramento Bee, I have had reporters misquote president Bush, only to tell me: “That’s what he really meant!” Still others claim to know something about science, but claim the scientific method is predicated on consensus! As a result, soldiers being shot by a mad man doesn’t get the same coverage as an anti-Semite shooting a guard, Democrats caught in trysts don’t get the same treatment as Republicans. Those who shoot in self-defense are treated as murderers and murderers are treated as victims of society.


Truth to power is a concept that doesn’t exist in any objective form. The result of this bias has resulted in a failure of confidence in the fourth estate. Revenues aside, the people served by the mainstream media no longer have much faith in what they read. Will Rodgers’ claim that all he knew was what he read in the newspapers was prophetic! Today, we have other sources to balance out what we read, resulting in a definitive understanding that the Bee and others give us only half the truth. Half the truth is, in essence, a lie!

Are you listening, media?

McClatchy was a dogged, often bitter opponent of President Bush for 8 years. The Truth to Power motto almost fit, even if McClatchy's opposition to Bush was usually cantankerous and often absurd. Now that Obama is in the White House, McClatchy has stopped being a watchdog of the President, focusing its criticisms on FOX news and Republican politicians who are unfaithful. Sometimes the media functions like an arm of the Democratic party.

The Bee's cartoonist, Rex Babin, still sends most of his barbs at Republicans -- and conservatives like Carrie Prejean -- even though the national GOP is completely out of power.

I've said it before: McClatchy needs to either live up to its Truth to Power motto, or drop it.

Update: From comments, pro-Obama bias at McClatchy and across the MSM might be helping FOX and others:
McClatchy's one-sided love affair with Obama has eroded its credibility as a news source. Since it's high-up editors can't see this or won't believe it, there's not much Americans can do except choose others. Maybe that's why Fox News ratings have been skyrocketing the past year.


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76 comments:

Dave D. said...

..They might drop the logo...though I don't think they will, as their pride is in charge, not their business sense. But the SacBee will never drop their arrogance, willingness to lie, chea and just make things up to advance their political and social agendas. It's who they are.

Anonymous said...

Bankruptcy is the only and best way to speak to these Marxists. I laugh and become pleasingly aghast each time I pick up a local paper (at a coffee house, never, ever buying one), or stumble on a paper I haven’t seen in a while.

With their razor thin AP shill content, and close to a dollar price, not only is the end near, but the real arrogance is they still pound their chests, yet say nothing of the size of their postage stamp papers they spew in…for a little while longer.

So why write and tell them about their peccadilloes, as they are too set and too arrogant to care.

Simply don’t buy their trash and laugh as they go anorexic, and swear they are still fat.

I hate to use the poor guy as an analogy, but since they use him 24-7 these days, Michael Jackson anyone?

Anonymous said...

Bush will go down in history as the worse President in US history. It's going to be many years since so many documents are sealed but that will happen. I realize it's very tough for you folks to get over the loss of the Presidency and all those seats in the Senate and House but maybe, just maybe you should look at the root of why that happened. People were fed up with eight years of politicians propping up their own businesses, especially starting a war. I'm not saying it's any better now. The economy is in shambles and I don't agree with a lot of this bailout nonsense. But the fact of the matter is that we're in this boat because of eight years of mis-management and cronyism from the office of the President and Vice-President. The other factor here is although John McCain is a great man he ran a terrible campaign. It was a monumental blunder to pick Pailin as his running mate. I personally don't think that was his fault, he probably was listening to some not so savvy advisors. Not seeing that and blaming the current administration who have only been in office for a few months is nonsense.

Anonymous said...

WHY BOTHER EMAILING THE BRAIN DEAD

Time Magazine Blames Calif. Budget Mess on... Low Taxes?

For Time Magazine, Kevin O'Leary has decided that he's figured out why California is in such a budget mess.

Is it because the state indulges over generous social programs, or always has some of the highest taxes in the nation, or because the denizens of its capitol in Sacramento are paragons of waste, fraud and theft?

Nope. It's because California has Proposition 13, a measure that prevents state government from too easily raising taxes.

Yep, O'Leary thinks California is in a mess because it doesn't have high enough taxes. And it's all Reagan's fault.

Anonymous said...

7:49 Don't you have a bathhouse, or a Michael Jackson wake to go to?

Anonymous said...

McClathy's one-sided love affair with Obama has eroded its credibility as a news source. Since it's high-up editors can't see this or won't believe it, there's not much Americans can do except choose others. Maybe that's why Fox News ratings have been skyrocketing the past year.

Anonymous said...

No one takes newspaper editorials seriously anymore other than other editorial writers. All of the Bee editorials are just pure garbage.

Anonymous said...

Don't any of you have access to Fox or to Hannity? Quit your whining.

Anonymous said...

MICHELLE OBAMABABOON BOOZE BINGES

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/michelle_obama_booze_binges_barack_livid/celebrity/66873

I think Michelle is too dangerous to take care of her children.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:44 MEDIA CRICKETS NO DOUBT

Recall, the Nat Enq was the only one to run the Edwards love child story (which was true by the way)
while all other media cowards shied away from it.

A "D" by the politicians name means run and hide, an "R" by the name means go for the throat"

Our unbiased media.

John Altevogt said...

"Are you listening media?" No.

Anonymous said...

Bush was no conservative, he was a moderate Democrat. He was dumber than a box of nails and an easy target for the liberal media. The Sac Bee is embarrassingly far left and without apology. Its editorials are laughable. Credibility is not something the SacBee even cares about.

Anonymous said...

7:49.... you have an opinion, and that is fine. The problem is that many "journalists" shared the same opinion, but instead of showing any level of professionalism, they let their opinion control their objective reporting.

It's not that the media is conservative or liberal, it is that they no longer can contain their bias and do an honest job of reporting. The classically trained professional jounalists of old have been replaced with biased immature cause fighters who have no sense of professionalism. For them the end always justifies the means. They simply never matured beyond their sophmore year in college.

Anonymous said...

"Are you listening media?" No."
They're not listening to you because you are nothing but a broken record. Please try and come up with some new ideas. I'm sure in your usual "mature" way you'll rant and rave and call those who disagree with you names.

Anonymous said...

Don't any of you have access to Fox, Limbaugh and Hannity? If you do, and you like them better, what's the problem?

Anonymous said...

Fox, Limbaugh and Hannity are the highest-rated cable news and radio shows in the country and the ratings are going up. I guess the country is watching and listening to those programs in droves. Newspapers, the sell-out liberal mouthpieces who claim objectivity, are close to extinction. So STFU!

Anonymous said...

This "liberal media" argument has been going on since the 50s...

Why should the media serve a narrow special interest such as the right wing?

I think you conservatives should thank the media for going after Preejan and others who make your side look stupid. They're doing you a favor.

While the "mainstream" media may have it's faults, the shrill "conservative" media is appalling.

Look no further than Fox News for blatant skewing of the issues. There was a D beside Mark Sanford's name...Another disgraced Republican Fox News decides to mislead their viewers into thinking he's a Democrat.

And yes, someone shooting up a museum is bigger news than a soldier shooting other soldiers...Soldiers shoot other soldiers, it happens. The military life makes some people crazy...that's been true since the Revolution...a lot more than someone shoots up a museum...

Anonymous said...

Limbgaugh and Hannity do not claim to be unbiased reporters or journalists.

Why is it so difficult for the mindless liberals to see the difference between a commentator/entertainer and a person claiming to be an unbiased professional reporter?

The complaint is not that they are biased, it is that they claim to be unbiased when, in fact, they are allowing their personal political opinions to seep into every story they carry or choose not to carry.

Anonymous said...

People who want only a right-wing slant have Fox, Limbaugh and Hannity. People who want only a left-wing slant have Olbermann and Maddow. The rest of us -- the vast majority -- want solid, nonpartisan reporting, and we have many good sources for that, the same sources the Republicans have demonizing since Spiro Agnew as a political tactic.

Anonymous said...

Not talking about Limbaugh and Hannity...talking about the newscasters on the NEWS programs on Fox who do indeed claim to be "fair and balanced"...Fox News is the only outlet I hear using that language

Anonymous said...

Well said, 3:03!!

Anonymous said...

"Unbiased" does not mean uncontroversial...If the facts make the GOP look bad stupid, maybe you should look for reasons other than bias. Ditto for Dems

Anonymous said...

"People who want only a left-wing slant have Olbermann and Maddow."

They also have McClatchy, Washington Post, NY Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSDNC, Gannett, etc.

Why is it so hard to reveal that liberals control 95% of the media outlets out there . . . hence the LIBERAL MEDIA.

Anonymous said...

Remember the Liberal Media outrage about Jeff Gannon?

Where is the coverage of the Obama administration using the Huffington Post to plant questions?

Please don't tell me there's no liberal media, you insult the intelligence of millions.

Anonymous said...

Huffington Post does not claim to be "fair and balanced." It's a liberal outfit and makes no bones about that. It's just as crappy if it happened, but that's not the "mainstream media." Try again.

MSNBC, you may have a point. But again, they don't hide behind the "we report, you decide," BS that Fox does.

Anonymous said...

Those who "control" media are corporate honchos who are out for profits and likely to lean Republican...The editors probably lean a little more liberal because of the nature of their work, but there are a lot of nonpartisans and libertarians, too. The "control" part is off base. Try again.

Anonymous said...

****MSNBC, you may have a point. But again, they don't hide behind the "we report, you decide," BS that Fox does.****

No, they hide behind with their talent as Shuster, Matthews, Olbermann, Mika, Carlos Watson and Maddow stating that they're "independents."

Anonymous said...

"Those who "control" media are corporate honchos who are out for profits and likely to lean Republican..."

The coroporate honchos at media firms are more likely to be Democrats. Unless you're going to tell me the Sulzbergers are Republicans.

Oh, and please remember that when Bernie Madoff is sentenced tomorrow, he is a Democrat.

Anonymous said...

Mika?? Scarborough? They have a former Republican senator on that show. Mika is hardly a liberal...And furthermore, that's a talk show that doesn't claim to be journalism

Anonymous said...

The Sulzburgers are hardly typical of the corporate suits who "control" the media...

Go poll some Gannett, MG upper-management types for their political leanings

Anonymous said...

"Mika?? Scarborough? They have a former Republican senator on that show. Mika is hardly a liberal..."

If you mean a former congressman, then yes.

Mike endorsed Obama, so if that doesn't make her a liberal then you must be wearing blinders.

Anonymous said...

What is your point with Madoff?

He's not an elected official. His political leanings have nothing to do with what he did or how the media reports on it.

Anonymous said...

****Go poll some Gannett, MG upper-management types for their political leanings****

I'm guessing it's the same as McClatchy.

Oh and the point about Madoff is him being a rich conglomerate being a Democrat.

Anonymous said...

You stopped a bit short listing liberal garbage dumps.
“People who want only a left-wing slant have Olbermann and Maddow.”

And, 99% of the print media, TV Networks, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC.
Did I miss any of the left-wing loonies? The last inside the White House propaganda network was not well received by the public or the press. Even the deadheads are waking up. The media may have to admit they made a mistake not asking the questions even a cub reporter would ask of a total sham candidate.

Anonymous said...

Hello, Allen Stanford?

So, anyone who voted for Obama can't possibly be trusted to read the news, is that what you're saying?

Anonymous said...

****So, anyone who voted for Obama can't possibly be trusted to read the news, is that what you're saying?****

When the news is run in the fashion of Goebells, do you find that trustworthy?

Anonymous said...

I believe the old saying, "the first to compare the other to a Nazi has lost the argument"

Anonymous said...

Here is a perfect example of Liberal Media bias, especially by McClatchy:

"Media nervous on new Duke U. rape case (updated)"

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/06/media_nervous_on_new_duke_u_ra.html

Why isn't Linda Williams at the N&O
pursuing this as she did the Duke Men's Lacrosse team?

Could it be it didn't fit their left-wing agenda?

Anonymous said...

****I believe the old saying, "the first to compare the other to a Nazi has lost the argument"****

Considering you can't refute your argument, that contention is laughable.

Anonymous said...

Could it be it didn't fit their left-wing agenda?
.
Is the Pope Catholic?

Anonymous said...

The link to the actual story:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1586521.html

Makes it pretty clear he is gay. Reports what happened....I think outrage and shock at that case is a foregone conclusion...The Duke lacrosse case was certainly not a proud chapter in the N and O's history, or for some of the Duke faculty...But I don't really see much liberal bias here...The guy was a sick person who deserves to be put under the jail.

Anonymous said...

The contention that the media is run like Goebbels' propaganda machine is what is laughable...It doesn't need refutation. It's completely absurd.

Anonymous said...

****The contention that the media is run like Goebbels' propaganda machine is what is laughable...It doesn't need refutation. It's completely absurd.****

You're right, it's absurd. It's more run like Baghdad Bob.

"Did you see how great Obama was when he killed that fly. OH WOW!" -95% of the Present-Day Media

Anonymous said...

I wonder if those 88 Hard Left Duke “professors” will sign a petition to destroy these perverts, as they did when the Lacrosse players were falsely accused? Will Linda Williams accept their one-page ad to condemn them?

Yeah, I know. I’ll hold my breath.

Anonymous said...

It's just the one dude who has been accused...

It's comparing apples to oranges. Condemning a child molester is really a foregone conclusion... Who wouldn't condemn a child molester??

You'll have to do better than that to find bias.

Anonymous said...

Oh come on. The fly swatting was a pretty bad-a** move...Get over it.

Anonymous said...

****It's just the one dude who has been accused...*****

It was just several "dudes" from the Duke Men's Lacrosse Team. So, what's the difference? Oh, they were white straight males while the accused here is GAY.

Where are the scathing editorials from the N&O? Still waiting.

Anonymous said...

Excellent find of blatant liberal bias.

I have another example from Friday where Obama "Drafts Order for Indefinite Detention Without Trial for Accused Terrorists."

Where's the outrage from McClatchy, NY Times, Newsweek, Washington Post, etc.?

Where is MSDNC demanding the impeachment of Obama?

Maybe they're too busy with the death of Michael Jackson. LOL.

Anonymous said...

"In my own ongoing battle with the Sacramento Bee, I have had reporters misquote president Bush, only to tell me: “That’s what he really meant!” Still others claim to know something about science, but claim the scientific method is predicated on consensus! As a result, soldiers being shot by a mad man doesn’t get the same coverage as an anti-Semite shooting a guard, Democrats caught in trysts don’t get the same treatment as Republicans. Those who shoot in self-defense are treated as murderers and murderers are treated as victims of society."

OK, let's take this latest burst of unsubstantiated right-wing group think one item at a time:

- "In my own ongoing battle with the Sacramento Bee, I have had reporters misquote president Bush, only to tell me: 'That’s what he really meant!' "

I challenge you to provide a single example - by name and/or printed or archived statement - of a Bee reporter or any mainstream reporter erroneously putting quotation marks around a statement by President Bush and then claiming "that's what he really meant." Just one example.

- "Still others claim to know something about science, but claim the scientific method is predicated on consensus!"

From Merriam-Webster: "principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses." One should add that the results of these tested hypotheses must be replicable by other scientists. Thus, the reference to consensus. And what does this have to do with McClatchy or any other newspaper company?

- "As a result, soldiers being shot by a mad man doesn’t get the same coverage as an anti-Semite shooting a guard."

See 2:55 p.m. News is the unusual and unexpected.

- "Democrats caught in trysts don’t get the same treatment as Republicans."

Two words: Eliot Spitzer.

- "Those who shoot in self-defense are treated as murderers and murderers are treated as victims of society."

A single example please.

Here is the harsh truth, which remains true regardless of how many times all of you talk-radio fans post the same paranoid, woe-is-me, everyone-is-picking-on-us stuff:

The press did not toss out the Republicans. A large majority of the voters tossed out the Republicans. Do you really hold such a low opinion of your fellow Americans that you think they could all be herded by newspapers (which, by the way, as this seriously flawed "McClatchy Watch" blog every now and then gets around to mentioning, aren't being read by very many people any more).

Political pendulums swing from right to left, from left to right. Your guys had power for eight years and did a few good things and made a few big mistakes. The voters decided it was time to swing the pendulum the other way. Sooner or later, they'll toss out these guys and your time will come again.

It ain't a grand conspiracy. Newspaper people (the few who are left) are way too disorganized to pull off a conspiracy. It's just the natural order of things - cycles change.

Anonymous said...

The ratings for Hannity, Limbaugh, and the rest of the loons are increasing because misery loves company.

Anonymous said...

Duke lacrosse and a child molester are not comparable...Not a lot of people feel the need to publicly condemn child molesters because it's obvious they deserve condeming. There is consensus on that issue.

What happened in the Duke lacrosse case three years ago is a shame.

However, you're condemning them for jumping to conclusions in the lacrosse case, then they don't jump to conclusions in this case, and you want them to?? So, two wrongs make a right? This is what you're saying?

Anonymous said...

Come on people, it's a given that 95% of the MSM is run and is now bwing driven to the ground by liberals.

If news doesn't fit their Hard Left agenda all you will hear are crickets chirping.

MSM, do your job?! Ha, give me a break! The only way they'll change is via bankruptcy and failure.

The MSM needs Red State revenue to survive, but they're too blinded by partisan viewpoints to give notice to that until it's too late.

Anonymous said...

****However, you're condemning them for jumping to conclusions in the lacrosse case, then they don't jump to conclusions in this case, and you want them to??****

No, what I am condeming is the double standard. Linda Williams and the rest of the pukes at McClatchy have been in the newspaper business long enough to know they shouldn't jump to conclusions.

So, why did they do it? Simple, the victim was Black and the accused perps were White Males. A pefect story to fit their Far Left radical agenda.

If another story came out where the perps where white and the victims were Black, I would bet you any amount of money the N&O would "jump to conclusions" in a heartbeat.

Anonymous said...

*****If another story came out where the perps where white and the victims were Black, I would bet you any amount of money the N&O would "jump to conclusions" in a heartbeat. ****

You can bet all you want, but your argument is still lacking.

Anonymous said...

I have another example from Friday where Obama "Drafts Order for Indefinite Detention Without Trial for Accused Terrorists."

Where's the outrage from McClatchy, NY Times, Newsweek, Washington Post, etc.?


LMAO. Exactly. Where is the Liberal Media outrage about this? Oh, that's only for Republican administrations?

Anonymous said...

****You can bet all you want, but your argument is still lacking.****

Hardly lacking. Linda Williams and the behavior of the N&O's Hard Left agenda speak for themselves.

Anonymous said...

Basing arguments on bets is weak. So is creating straw men and leaps of logic

Anonymous said...

****Basing arguments on bets is weak. So is creating straw men and leaps of logic****

You described the N&O's coverage of the Duke Lacrosse case perfectly.

Truth to Power indeed.

Anonymous said...

****You described the N&O's coverage of the Duke Lacrosse case perfectly.***

In that case, you are no better than those you criticize.

Anonymous said...

***And, 99% of the print media, TV Networks, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC.***

Even if true (which it isn't), you right-wingers still have Fox, Limbaugh, Hannity, Ingraham, Beck, O'Reilly and 99 percent of AM talk radio. You've got plenty of news readers and opinionators you like. So you have nothing to complain about.

Anonymous said...

5:56- You just named six or so people against thousands of biased liberals in the print media alone. Are you devoid of rational thinking?

Anonymous said...

Linda Williams is so hard left and narrow minded, she only needs one eye.

Anonymous said...

The big difference between the Duke lacrosse team and the Duke homosexual child molester is the media wanted the first to be true and the latter to be false.

Anonymous said...

I have a great idea. For all of you that think Fox is biased, don't watch it. For all of you that think the main stream media is biased, cancel your subscriptions.

We are already seeing how that is working out. Say good night, liberal journalists. You are soooo gone.

Anonymous said...

***You just named six or so people against thousands of biased liberals in the print media alone.***


That's been the GOP mantra since the Nixon administration, the strategy originally to try to divert attention from the reporting that was uncovering the truth about Watergate. The Republicans and right-wingers have been using the same strategy ever since to try to ward off reporting they didn't like or that didn't suit their political purposes, and to explain their losses in elections. They've been fairly successful using this strategy, but more and more voters are seeing through it, as the last two elections showed.

Anonymous said...

Why can't we all get along ?

Anonymous said...

It is going to be soooo nice to see all of you liberal assholes unemployed, unemployable and on the streets. Soooooo very nice.

No marketable skills. No future. No place to push your sophomoric liberalism. A future of pushing a stolen shopping cart and wearing those cute little gloves that do not have fingers. Lovely.

Your monopoly on information is gone. Your future is gone. You have nothing to look forward to except taking directions from a pimple faced "manager" at a fast food restaurant. Enjoy assholes.

Anonymous said...

6:59, I would think anyone would hope that a child molester didn't do what he was accused of...if only for the child's sake. It's a horrible thing, and if the guy did it, he should rot under the jail. But "the media" has no skin in that game. And the comparison to Duke is crap.

7:01, MSNBC is doing just fine. If you want to compare apples to apples. But small town papers with conservative editorial boards are doing just as bad as other papers.

8:24, Journalists are plenty employable. The ones I know who have been laid off have started their own businesses, gone into corporate communications, teaching, law school, etc.

Typical, start throwing around insults when you've lost an argument.

Anonymous said...

To 7:49 ...

History ultimately will show that Bush was vastly underrated as a President. In fact, the first few months of the Obamination has already shown that. Wait until Zero's reign is over, and the USSA will barely resemble what it was when he gained power. Freedom as we have known it will exist only outside the USSA.

Anonymous said...

anom749....you need psychiatric help immediately, or at least your mom needs to give you your warm milk and cookies and unplug your internet connection.

Anonymous said...

anon 7:49 Don’t forget that decorating job later today?

Remember to think and focus on showing fabrics that will make that special sofa just pop!

Anonymous said...

Re: “That's been the GOP mantra since the Nixon administration”

Why do we keep going back to the Nixon case when we have the Clinton scandal as more recent heroic news reporting to cite? Didn’t the so-called journalists hound Clinton day in, day out? Wasn’t he guilty? Isn’t Clinton a dirt bag still? What about the tax cheaters in Obama’s cabinet? Where are the full accountings of their dishonest pasts? The use of Nixon to draw fire away from the current batch of lowlife politicians is getting old hat, really old hat. In fact, I don’t think that old saw will play much longer. The biased media is tone deaf, and still playing their OneNote song. Exit stage left, and turn out the neon lights, the fat lady has finished her final solo.

Anonymous said...

***Why do we keep going back to the Nixon case when we have the Clinton scandal as more recent heroic news reporting to cite? Didn’t the so-called journalists hound Clinton day in, day out?***

I guess this just proves that the hated "liberal media" was and still is a "right-wing media," contrary to the GOP mantra, used as a political strategy.

Anonymous said...

On that LONG list of liberal media mouthpieces two of the most biased were left off. Wouldn't want to forget good old PBS (especially Moyers) and lefty, taxpayer supported NPR. The mainstream media is loaded with liberal propaganda. Time to clean house!

Anonymous said...

***Time to clean house!***

What are you talking about. Even if your assertions were true, the cons are out of power. It's time for you guys to tend to your own garden and stop making yourselves look foolish.

Anonymous said...

5:24, I think you missed the point, if the media prides themselves on bringing down a lying president, why not highlight Clinton? He certainly is the most recent liar that faced charges, and was found guilty. Perhaps the fact that he was not driven from office needs closer scrutiny.