Media bias proves costly

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

More than 20 years ago, CBS News' Emmy Award-winner Bernard Goldberg exposed the political bias in his own profession. 
 
Goldberg had a reputation as one of the pre-eminent reporters in the television news business. When he looked within his own profession, he saw that the media far too often ignored their primary mission: Objective, fair and accurate reporting.

In his 2001 book, "Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News," the 30-year veteran CBS news reporter gave detailed examples of liberal bias in news reporting. The book reached No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Goldberg witnessed time and again that the mainstream media slanted the news to the left. For years, Goldberg appealed to reporters, producers, and network executives for more balanced reporting, but no one listened. The liberal bias continued. Goldberg then exposed the news business for what it had become in the 21st century.

Goldberg was ahead of his time.

Fast-forward a couple of decades, and we have media "institutions" accepting Pulitzers for intentionally false reporting due to political bias or other ulterior motives.

Maybe, just maybe, the worm (or snake in the grass) is beginning to turn.

Last week, a network that Sean Hannity likes to affectionately call "MSDNC" hit record lows in overall viewers, dropping a whopping 41 percent among prime-time viewers, according to Mediaite. The network’s ratings dropped a total of 34 percent compared to May 2024.

And it's no wonder.

For years, they have parroted the DNC talking points – much like the majority of the left-wing media. They presented their "opinions" as "news." That is, and always has been, blatantly wrong in this business.

For the record, if you are reading this, it is not "news." It is researched and fact-based; still, it is an "opinion." And is labeled as such.

Where the mainstream media strayed (oh, where to begin?), is when their reporters, editors, publishers, network hosts and others began presenting their opinions as "news." Worse, they expected us to believe them.

When someone like Morning Doofus or Fake Trapper insists that 2024 Joe Biden was the sharpest Joe Biden they've ever witnessed, they know full well they are lying to their audience. Still, they are gambling that their audience (those few believers) is willfully ignorant and easily led astray all the way to the ballot box. I suspect they often laugh about the extensive gullibility of their own audience. 

And now, a number of them are writing books in which they basically admit, "Hey, we knew it all along." So did the rest of us. Years ago. Hell, even KJP Binder is coming clean and leaving the daily talking points.

Five years ago, the mainstreamers insisted that the Hunter Biden laptop was part of some Russian hoax or collusion. Five years ago, after viewing what I viewed and reading what I read from that laptop, I surmised that it was classic Hunter Biden. That's just who he was – and perhaps still is.

But, no. The media not only covered for the Bidens, they took part in censoring other media from publishing the truth.

"MSDNC" just suffered through its second-worst month in history, AdWeek reported. The network has reportedly been playing catch-up since last year when it began leaning on its so-called stars, to help save its ratings. It's not working.

Then in November, the hosts of "The Morning Joe" (see Morning Doofus above) were seen at Mar-a-Lago with Trump, leaving many of their viewers hotter than a match.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the network has lost 47 percent of its overall audience since the November election. CNN has also seen double-digit losses, dipping 33 percent.

Some folks – even liberals – probably get tired of being lied to by the Fourth Estate. Meanwhile, Fox News had a 24-percent increase in viewers.

For years, I have read, watched and listened to reporters from all sides. It doesn't take much time to separate the wheat from the chaff. For that reason, like many others, I have stopped watching certain networks. Same for reading certain newspapers. It's about credibility and acknowledging when you are wrong.

It's rare for the mainstream media to admit their errors – or blatant lies, for that matter.

Two reporters I admire are Harris Faulkner, who I listen to from my car radio, and Bret Baier, who is often on weeknights at 6 p.m. Both seem to be straightforward news professionals. That they are on a perceived "conservative" network does not detract from their professionalism.

Those news reporters who use their platform to further any political agenda should either move to the Opinion Section or shut up. Don't masquerade your personal opinion as the news of the day.

Most of us are sick and tired of it – and can clearly see through it. Just check your ratings, Morning Show Guy. Turn out the lights, your party's over.

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.