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August 16, 2004

Just Words

Patterico has a great exercise on the subtlest form of media bias:

Liberal bias takes many forms. When the alleged bias is the omission or distortion of critical facts, demonstrating the bias is a more straightforward project. But there is a more subtle and far more pervasive bias that is harder to explain to skeptics: a bias based on the wording of a piece. This sort of bias manifests itself in the tone, the word usage, and the perspective of a piece. I am going to attempt to explain this sort of bias today, by showing some of the devices used.

Today the Washington Post prints one of those articles that drive conservatives like me crazy. The article, a front-page news analysis titled Kerry Put On Defensive About Iraq, just drips with sympathy for Kerry. But I don't find any clear misstatements of fact in the piece. The bias is in the way it's worded, starting with the very first paragraph:

Read the whole thing - by which I mean "scroll to the end", where James includes an example of this bias in action.

Then apply what you learn while reading the Strib.

Especially if you're a Democrat.

Posted by Mitch at August 16, 2004 07:01 AM | TrackBack
Comments

I agree with your points. One thing I've been left wondering is whether the biases (which are not always just going to left) are some sort of "over-corrections" for the media's sometimes inept ability to cover Bush fairly. Even as a conservative, I believe you would admit Bush has gotten off pretty easy on some distorted policies lately, which the media completely failed to cover fairly or accurately.

Posted by: michael at August 17, 2004 01:23 AM
hi