Exhibit A:

Fat Head: Excellent … in that case, you only need to remember a single dramatic narrative to guide all your reporting. Write this down and put it next to your keyboard. No matter what specific issue you’re covering, the narrative is: HEROIC GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TRY TO SAVE HELPLESS AMERICANS — GREEDY CAPITALISTS OPPOSED.

It's a familiar hobbyhorse of mine by now, but I continue to be amused or dismayed, depending on my mood, whenever I read or hear complaints about "media bias." The subtext is invariably "I, of course, am not deceived. I invariably detect the [liberal/conservative] media bias as I consume the news, and compensate for it accordingly, which accounts for my own absolutely reliable evaluation of current events. Alas, most of my fellow citizens, who are unfortunately allowed to vote as well as to read, lack my massive intellect and are perforce deceived by the wicked corporatists/socialists who own the media."

"Media bias" is kinda like bad taste. Everyone acknowledges the widespread existence of bad taste, but few are found who will own up to the affliction. Likewise the "bias" of the media is universally deplored, yet it's always someone else who falls for it.

cordially,