An interesting observation from Fox News anchor, Eric Burns. Asked about his "pet criticism" of the media today, the questioner expected him to respond with concerns about "liberal bias". In fact, Burns said: "There's a much greater problem than political bias. I see political bias both ways... To me, the two main biases that affect television news are a bias toward simplicity - stripping a story of its necessary nuance - and toward sensationalism, making a story that really isn't that important seem as if it is."
That reply prompted blogger Brendan Nyhan to comment: "He's exactly right. Journalists do sometimes inject liberal or conservative bias into their stories, but the commercial incentives that favour sensationalism, scandal, 'he said'/'she said' reporting, adhering to conventional wisdom, etc. are more important in shaping the quality of the news that the public receives." I know TV reporting different in Britain, but there is something to this here too, is there not? (Via The Desert Sun)
