One of the main tenets of journalistic ethics is that while a newspaper is free to express opinions on politics in its editorials, it shouldn’t let its political agenda drive its news coverage. There’s supposed to be a firm, clear line between the editorial page and the news columns.
At Bend’s Only Daily Newspaper, that line sometimes gets awfully blurry.
On Sunday, The Bulletin carried a story in the top position on the front page headlined: “Stiegler’s tax votes factor into House race.” The story described how Jason Conger, a Republican challenging Democratic Rep. Judy Stiegler of Bend for re-election, plans to make an issue of her support for the Measure 66 and 67 tax increases.
The story pointed out that Stiegler’s home district voted against both measures, although the margins of defeat were not overwhelming: about 6% for Measure 66 and 7% for 67.
It’s not exactly news that Stiegler supported the tax measures, nor is it surprising that a Republican would attack a Democrat as a “tax-and-spend liberal.” Based on news value, the story hardly seemed worthy of leading the front page – and on Sunday, the highest-circulation day of the week.
I wasn’t the only one who thought there was something not quite kosher about the story and its play. “I thought the front page article on Judy Stiegler was pretty blatantly politically slanted against her,” wrote local blogger Duncan McGeary. “Both in context and where it was placed. Seemed like an ad for her opponent.”
This isn’t the first time The Bulletin’s political position has appeared to color its news coverage. Remember how hard the paper tried to make a huge issue out of state Sen. Betsy Johnson’s supposed “conflict of interest” during the battle over legislation to protect the Metolius River from destination resorts?
Coincidentally – or not – the lead editorial on the same day that the front-page Stiegler story ran was headlined “Stiegler’s district needs a centrist” and raised the same point about her supporting tax measures that a majority of voters in her district rejected. “Is she politically out of step with her constituents?” the editorial asked.
I’ll give you one guess as to how The Bulletin will answer that question as we move into campaign season.
This article appears in Feb 18-24, 2010.
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Holly cow leave it to Miller to color the keetle black. Sorry to say, but you just did what you said was a bad thing to do. So where can i get some of those walking contradiction crutches?
Ralphie Baby: This blog expresses my opinions. I have never made any secret of that or pretended it was anything other than an expression of my opinions.
HBM says: “One of the main tenets of journalistic ethics is that while a newspaper is free to express opinions on politics in its editorials, it shouldn't let its political agenda drive its news coverage. There's supposed to be a firm, clear line between the editorial page and the news columns.”
You must have read that someplace.
The Bulletin is no different than your paragon of papers, the NY Times. Of course you probably think the NY Times’ news stories provide an unslanted, unvarnished reporting of today’s events. Maybe that is why it is almost BK.
There are so very few newspapers still making a go of it. The Wall Street Journal comes to mind although no one buys it anymore to look up stock quotes now that the internet provides minute by minute updates.
So why do you think it does so well? Perhaps it practices the tenet from above, the one that you read somewhere. The “All the news that’s fit to print” torch has passed from the NY Times to the WSJ. Not only that, but WSJ’s editorials express the only opinions worth having.
What’s a liberals favorite w(h)ine? “That’s not fair!!!”
You have lost perspective of balance. The people of America have let their voices be heard by prefering Fox News to all other cable news outlets. They are tired of the same left-leaning media that has dominated this country for many years.
Liberals hate Fox News because it doesn’t favor them. People love Fox News because they get real information. Even if Fox News is slanted to the right, their approach is more positive. I listened to Air America for a few minutes years back during a trip to Portland. All I heard was anger and venom. I had to turn it off. It was totally depressing.
So, The Bulletin had a story that leaned a bit to the right. Have you ever read the Oregonian? Balance, Dude. Balance!
Space Elf, you’re hilarious. Liberals = Whiners. Did you think that up all by yourself, or did you get some help? Keep ’em coming! Zing!
“People love Fox News because they get real information”
The people who love Faux News love it because they get “information” and opinions that reinforce the beliefs they already hold. Cognitive dissonance causes discomfort, so most people try to avoid it. Unfortunately the advent of cable news and the Web has made it easy to do that, because mass-market newspapers, magazines and TV news shows have been replaced by news products aimed at niche markets. Whether you’re a right-winger or left-winger, it’s easier than ever to shield yourself from any contact with views opposed to your own. That’s one of the big reasons our politics are getting more and more polarized and the rhetoric is getting more and more strident and rude.
You make a good point but you missed the major point. FOX News has more viewers that CNN, MSNBC, etc. put together. If people are only tuning in to what satifies their niche, then liberals are in the extreme minority. Why are Rush & Glen on the top of talk radio? Why did Air America – even with all of the funding from George Soros, fail?
Most daytime TV talk shows are liberal. They appeal to the available market. So, conservative radio and evening newscasts are very popular. Liberal daytime TV shows are popular. Daytime radio & evening cable news would fit into the schedule of most working people. Daytime TV shows fit into the schedule of people who mostly don’t work.
Think about it!
Ron, I do all of my own thinking so yes, I made that up.
“FOX News has more viewers that CNN, MSNBC, etc. put together.”
That’s simply untrue. Latest ratings (http://tvbythenumbers.com/category/ratings/cable-news) have Fox with 862,000 daytime viewers, CNN with 364,000, MSNBC with 566,000, CNBC with 994,000, and HLN with 228,000. That’s 862,000 for Fox and 2,152,000 for all the rest.
In prime time the numbers are Fox 912,000, CNN 286,000, MSNBC 461,000, CNBC 661,000, HLN 302,000. That’s 912,000 for Fox and 1,710,000 for the rest. A somewhat narrower gap, but still a far cry from Fox having “more viewers than CNN, MSNBC, etc. put together.”
Fox’s relatively large numbers might be due to the fact that it has a monopoly on cable news with a right-wing spin, whereas the audience for news with a more liberal spin is split among several networks. Also you have to take availability into account. In the Bend market, for instance, Fox News is part of the basic BendBroadband cable package, but you have to pay extra for MSNBC. What the situation is in other markets across the country I don’t know.
I also don’t know (but would love to learn) how many liberals and moderates tune in to O’Reilly, Hannity, Beck et al. for laughs. That’s some of the best free comedy on TV.
“Liberal daytime TV shows are popular. Daytime radio & evening cable news would fit into the schedule of most working people. Daytime TV shows fit into the schedule of people who mostly don’t work.”
Implicit message: “Liberals are lazy welfare bums who sit on their fat asses all day eating potato chips and watching Oprah.”
I don’t watch daytime TV and I know only one person who does. She voted for McCain.
In the last year, I traveled to many places to fill in as needed. This included Portland, Seattle, Reno, Chicago, New Jersey…
Most of these major hotels did not offer Fox News in their cable packages. Yes, Fox News has a monopoly on the right wing because the other news sources are left wing.
You quoted the daytime news ratings but didn’t mention evening. That is where Fox trumps the other cable news. I should have made that clearer.
Will you disagree that diverse groups who have a large percentage of their constituants taking “entitlements” (other than social security), tend to vote liberal? Why do the democrate leaders want to validate illegal immigrants? Do you think it’s just because they are “compassionate humanitarians”? No! They know that if they can vote, the majority will vote liberal. Most government handouts are created by liberals. Unfortunately, some RINOs do it too.
I recall about a year ago when some news program was showing video that showed scenes from both the democrate & republican conventions. For the republicans, I saw a majority of well-dressed, professional looking people and a large representation of military uniforms. At the democrate convention, I saw a lot of casually dressed people, pony-tailed men, olpies and minorities.
The thought that came to my mind to describe the contrast is “The Givers & The Takers”. I am not prejudice, but reality shines through. (You may need to look up that word – REALITY).
Politics have become very devisive and polarizing. I don’t foresee it getting any better. Fence-sitters are decreasing in number. Sadly, if things ever rise to a level of violence, it will be initiated by the left. Mark my words!
Maybe the Bulletin, like other successfull businesses, caters to the majority. wow, seems to me that is a good business decision. Maybe Judy should use similar math and represent her disrict, the way the majority wants. I can guarantee you she won’t be re-elected. HBM, you and your big government, anti business, liberal friends are going to feel the winds of CHANGE. And may friend, that will be change you can believe in!!!!!!!!!!
“You quoted the daytime news ratings but didn’t mention evening.”
Yes, I did. Read it again.
“For the republicans, I saw a majority of well-dressed, professional looking people and a large representation of military uniforms. At the democrate convention, I saw a lot of casually dressed people, pony-tailed men, olpies and minorities.”
Yes, I agree that the Republicans are the party of rich old white men and the Democrats are much more diverse and inclusive. That’s why the Republican ranks are declining and the Democratic ranks are growing.
BTW if you assume nowadays that a casually dressed guy wearing a ponytail isn’t successful, you’re really out of touch.
“The thought that came to my mind to describe the contrast is “The Givers & The Takers”. I am not prejudice [sic]”
Oh, of COURSE not! How could anyone even THINK such a thing? LMAO!!!
HBM: You cited TV ratings and gave a website. Thanks. How informative. I went to that site and guess what? I saw the numbers that you listed. They were for the 2/20 and 2/21 period which was the WEEKEND. NBC had a great weekend because of the OLYMPICS. Guess what other NBC cable channels carried the OLYMPICS. That’s right MSNBC and CNBC also carried the OLYMPICS. Why did you not say that in your posting. Why were you misleading us. Why did you not post the ratings for Monday 2/22? Your commentary was dated today 2/23 so you must have seen the ratings for 2/22. Why did you not include those ratings.
As a public service, I have posted the 2/22 ratings for Cable channels below.
Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for February 22, 2010
P2+ Total Day
FNC – 1,321,000 viewers
CNN – 359,000 viewers
MSNBC – 371,000 viewers
CNBC – 580,000 viewers
HLN – 291,000 viewers
P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 2,458,000 viewers
CNN – 413,000 viewers
MSNBC – 809,000 viewers
CNBC – 1,135,000 viewers
HLN – 597,000 viewers
Quite a different story than what you posted. Granted FNC still does not quite equal the others combined, but take away the OLYMPICS and CNBC and MSNBC will be in the gutter where they usually rank.
My harshest criticism of this blog is that you only scratch the surface and either don’t care about doing adequate research or don’t like the results and thus ignore the facts.
Jeebus H. Cripes, you guys must just hover over your keyboards all day and night waiting for me to post something so you can jump on it.
So now you blame it on the Olympics? How convenient.
If somebody really wants to watch Faux News he doesn’t have to stay tuned to MSNBC or CNBC when the Olympics telecast is over, you know — all he has to do is pick up the remote.
But if you want to play the game of cherry-picking numbers I’ll throw the totals for broadcast news shows from the ABC, NBC and CBS networks into the balance: CBS 5,810,000, NBC 9,444,000, ABC 8,187,000 (week of Feb. 9-15). Any one of the “liberal” network news shows ALONE blows the Faux numbers out of the water.
So because more people watch/listen to Fox News this makes them THE BEST? If that’s true, then Miley Cyrus is the best musician in the country and “Twilight” is the best book written in the past 50 years.
“My harshest criticism of this blog is that you only scratch the surface”
Hey dude, they don’t pay me enough to do heavy-duty investigative journalism here.
Ponytailman: I think the point is supposed to be that because more people watch Faux than any other cable news network, it means the country has rejected liberal/progressive ideas and progressives should just STFU.
Interestingly, however, the right-wingers refused to STFU when the voters soundly rejected their ideas in November 2008. Instead they stepped up the number and volume of their attacks.
“Interestingly, however, the right-wingers refused to STFU when the voters soundly rejected their ideas in November 2008. Instead they stepped up the number and volume of their attacks.”
And how’s that hopey-changy thing working out? Just creating more debt. And if you say “He inherited it from Bush”, think again. Drudge is reporting on Obummer’s plan to spend a billion dollars on new British Embassy. Many people were fooled, but those of us with open eyes saw this coming. His approval numbers are dropping faster than the value of our dollar.
And to address your knee-JERK reaction that I am prejudice, I would vote for Condi Rice or Michael Keys in a heartbeat. To bad they get vilified as Uncle Tom’s because as conservatives, they are not in favor of more government handouts.
And thanks to Aaych for looking up what I didn’t have time to.
HBM, can you give them the ratings numbers if they will publicly admit, once and for all, that as far as mainstream media go Fox News is as mainstream as they come?
“And how’s that hopey-changy thing working out?” Wow, it’s as grating in print as it is on television. Space Elf did you read that off the palm of your hand?
HBM quote “Hey dude, they don’t pay me enough to do heavy-duty investigative journalism here.”
then why do you get all tweeked out when folks bring out the real info? some times one has to say your right, but i guess that wouldn’t be in your vocabulary,as it seems.
“And how’s that hopey-changy thing working out?”
Not as well as I had hoped so far, but we’ll see. There are encouraging signs that Obama has decided to stop playing patty-cake with the Republicans, who have only been bent on destruction and obstruction from the git-go.
BTW Americans still like Obama’s approach to virtually every major issue better than that of the Republicans — see http://pollingreport.com/obama_ad.htm.
the link doesn’t load.:(
add a #C to the end of the link.
Bruce – buddy…
Thanks for that link. You should have read the whole thing first. The comparison is between Obummer and the congressional Republicans. Now, read the rest of the poll and see how the approval numbers between the two sides are shifting over time. On most questions, the fulcrum is moving to the right.
This is not because the republicans are blocking the demoncrates, it’s because people are realizing that what he wants to do is not good for the country.
Republicans bent on destruction and obstruction? I observed a long time ago that if you want to know what liberals are up to, all you have to do is listen to what they accuse the opposition of doing. Remember when Newt wanted to change Medicare to a better system? Al Gore came out and accused the republicans of wanting to scare people. Then the demoncraps went out on a “scare the old people” rant. Remember when Hillary said that republicans on the plantation? Policies of government handouts keep people on the plantation by making them dependant on the government. Liberal leaders have no interest in teaching anyone how to fish. They want to steal fish from the fisherman and give it to people that they have convinced are incapible of succeeding in the country i.e.: Affirmative Action which just assumes that minorities are of less intelligence than whites.
Well, back to the topic of this article. You see one article with a right-leaning slant and have a hissy-fit. You’ve never spoken out about left-leaning articles. You call Fox News Faux News, but you will never speak out against Tom Brokaw and his report on “W’s” miltary record or any of the over obvious left-leaning news outlets. It’s obvious that you are punch-drunk on the liberal kool-aid and have lost all perspective. You are not a journalist – you are a left-wing hack; nothing more, mothing less.
You have been unable to support any of your claims in this thread. and because you’ve been calls on it, you jump on those of us who are shining the light of truth on the darkness that you dispel. It’s always easier to pull someone down than to pull someone up. I like being up… you should try it sometime!