Etalkinghead

Everybody knows that the media is not biased, right? There is no tendency for their political leanings to influence their reporting. Reporters do not selectively include or exclude facts based on their own political views. No, that never happens.

Lets take a little test. Can you spot the media bias in this AP story?

WEST ALLIS, Wis. – President Bush (news – web sites) on Friday wished Bill Clinton (news – web sites) “best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery.” “He’s is in our thoughts and prayers,” Bush said at a campaign rally. Bush’s audience of thousands in West Allis, Wis., booed. Bush did nothing to stop them. Bush offered his wishes while campaigning one day after accepting the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in New York. Clinton was hospitalized in New York after complaining of mild chest pain and shortness of breath. Bush recently praised Clinton when the former president went to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait. He lauded Clinton for his knowledge, compassion and “the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president.

If you picked

Bush’s audience of thousands in West Allis, Wis., booed. Bush did nothing to stop them.

Then you are correct. You are a media bias expert.

However, if you picked that as the bias because of the sentence saying Bush did nothing to stop the boos, you picked it for the wrong reason. The bias in this passage of the story comes from the fact that it never happened.

Powerline sums up the situation nicely

This, folks, is a scandal. The blogosphere should not rest until the AP is brought to account.

Captain’s Quarters has list of contact points for the Associated Press:

Mr. T. Lee Hughes

Bureau Chief

Associated Press (NS-310V)

Milwaukee

918 N 4th St

Milwaukee, WI 53203-1506

Media Phone Number: (414) 225-3580

Media Fax Number: (414) 225-3599

Editor Email: tlhughes@ap.org

Mr. Scott Lindlaw

Associated Press (NS-300I)

White House Reporter

2021 K St NW

Ste 600

Washington, DC 20006-1003

Editor Phone Number: (202) 776-9494

Media Fax Number: (202) 776-9570

Editor Email: slindlaw@ap.org

Ms. Sandy Johnson

Associated Press (NS-300I)

Bureau Chief

2021 K St NW

Ste 600

Washington, DC 20006-1003

Editor Phone Number: (202) 776-9435

Media Fax Number: (202) 776-9570

Editor Email: sjohnson@ap.org