"Just the facts, ma'm, just the facts," Sgt. Joe Friday famously told his informers over 50 years ago on his television show.  This is advice that journalists at all levels should use when just reporting.  But they often don't as this mini—study reveals.
 
For years conservatives have complained about liberal  bias in the prominent and influential media.  And for years liberals in and out of the media have retorted, "Bias, what bias? These are the facts."
 
Then, with the rise of certain cable news channels that gave voice——and sight——to multiple viewpoints, and the popularity of some clearly defined opinionated radio talk show hosts who managed to get on the air, liberals harumphed of media bias and the conservative takeover of the media. 
 
And now a study by the non partisan Project for Exellence in Journalism seems to indicate that yes, there is bias in the media and yes, in the presidential race it favored...liberals. 
 
Some caveats:  the study did not examine all media, just several in each category and focused solely on the presidential race in early October. 
 
Maybe the Project will conduct a wider study soon.  That would certainly aid in understanding the inherent——maybe even unconcious——skewed reporting.  It would certainly provide a plan for remedying it. And it might even counter those who continue to claim there is no biased reporting, just the facts.
 
Ethel C. Fenig   12 22 04