Non-political Bias

Low Clothing Sales Foreshadow End of the World
By Nathan Burchfiel | December 18, 2007 | 1:21 PM EST

If you watched the news in the last 24 hours, you'd think women's clothing sales were the barometer for the economy. All three major networks reported a 6-percent decrease in women's apparel sales this holiday season, calling the figure "ominous," "worrisome" and "a big deal."

The only problem is that the corporation reporting the figures, Mastercard, didn't say it was that big of a deal. In fact Mastercard's SpendingPulse showed a "modest increase" in holiday sales overall, and "extraordinary growth" for eCommerce sales.

But for the MSM, good news is no news, so they zeroed in on one negative to suggest Christmas 2007 is a retail failure. And since Christmas is all about shopping, we might as well declare the whole season over before it started!

On the "CBS Evening News" Dec. 17, Anthony Mason reported "an ominous sign:

Some Questions the Media Won't Ask Today About AIDS
By Robert Knight | December 1, 2007 | 1:42 PM EST

It's World AIDS Day, so prepare for the usual media blitz of stories designed to promote more spending on failed approaches to HIV/AIDS, and more bashing of the Bush Administration despite increases in spending by the billions each year. Here are some of the questions that the media probably won't ask the professional HIV/AIDS lobby, which grows ever fatter while the human tragedy rises:

Virginia Store Calls Whites 'Gringos', Media Yawns
By Richard Newcomb | November 16, 2007 | 12:22 PM EST

Is it acceptable for stores catering to Hispanics to use racial epithets when referring to Caucasian residents of the United States? Apparently so. According to the Washington Times online edition, a furniture store located in Alexandria, Va., has posted a sign calling Americans 'gringos'. The Times reports that,

A sign outside the store at the intersection of North Beauregard and King streets reads, “Credito sin papeles de gringo.” In English, that could be translated to say “Credit without gringo papers.” Blanca Granados, the store's assistant manager, translated the message to mean “just 'without white papers,' like Social Security or like that.”
Video: 'O'Reilly Factor' Asks Rosie About 9/11
By Ian Schwartz | October 29, 2007 | 7:45 PM EDT

One of O'Reilly's staffers confronted Rosie O'Donnell during a book signing last Friday night. The person appeared to be Jesse Watters, longtime "Factor" producer who is known to track down celebrities and news makers who refuse to appear on O'Reilly's show.

Et Tu, Disney? Bleeping God from the Ten Commandments?!
By Kristen Fyfe | October 17, 2007 | 2:49 PM EDT

Radio Disney is bleeping "God" from ad copy for the upcoming movie "The Ten Commandments."Seriously.The folks at Liberty Counsel sent out notices on Monday and Tuesday of this week letting people know about a copy of an email they had in which a Radio Disney representative was advising a media buyer to delete the words "chosen by God" in ad copy for the movie "The Ten Commandments" which opens on October 19. To see the email, and also the petition that Liberty Counsel has to get Radio Disney to reconsider this decision you can click here.

AP Ignores China's Occupation of Tibet
By Richard Newcomb | October 16, 2007 | 12:32 PM EDT

The media is very pleased to report about the United States' occupation of Iraq, and they never seem to tire of insinuating that it is both unpopular and illegal. However, they seem to be strangely shy of reporting on other occupations, which are both more long-standing and of a imperialistic nature. A case in point is the Associated Press story today on President Bush's meeting with the Dalai Lama, the exiled god-king of Tibet.

AP: La Raza Is Civil Rights Group, Minutemen Are Vigilantes
By Richard Newcomb | September 21, 2007 | 11:59 AM EDT

Can the Associated Press distinguish between racial supremacy groups and civil rights groups? Apparently not. AP writer Maria Sudekum Fisher covers the appointment of 73 year old Frances Semler to Kansas City's parks board, which Fisher opposes because Semler is a member of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps. As Fisher writes,

SF News Anchor: Dale Earnhardt Jr. 'Should Marry His Stepmother'
By L.N. Smithee | September 20, 2007 | 3:38 AM EDT

A popular San Francisco news anchor inexplicably made a joke on a Wednesday evening newscast suggesting NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. “should marry his stepmother.” First, some background: Preceding the quip by KPIX news anchor Dana King was a flawed report from sports anchor Dennis O’Donnell about the unveiling of the stock car Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be racing with his new team next season.

Newsweek Shills For Smart Cars
By Richard Newcomb | September 19, 2007 | 11:18 AM EDT

The Smart car, a tiny two-seater produced by Mercedes-Benz, is being released in the United States, and Newsweek decided to celebrate by shilling for the supposedly socially-conscious vehicle. Newsweek allowed Smart's U.S. president David Schembri essentially free space to advertise in what is being represented as a news column.

Media: Liberals' Brains Better Than Conservatives
By Richard Newcomb | September 10, 2007 | 3:24 PM EDT

Yet another story is in the media highlighting the supposed superiority of liberals' brains to those of conservatives.

Ex-ACLU Chief Gets Seven Years For Child Porn
By John Stephenson | September 7, 2007 | 10:22 PM EDT

The blogs and MSM sure paid a lot of attention to Senator Craig, his wide stance, and restroom etiquette.  I wonder why they are not paying as much attention to the ACLU chief getting seven years for child porn?I wonder, especially, when it involves sexual torture of infants and toddlers....why isn't this getting any coverage?

'Grey's Anatomy' Star Criticized Heiress-Happy Media
By Lynn Davidson | August 9, 2007 | 9:55 PM EDT

“Grey's Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo struck out at the celeb-heavy media, according to an August 9 AP article. She had some interesting criticisms of the media and its focus on those ubiquitous celebutantes “who are rich and famous for nothing” and set bad examples for girls (emphasis mine throughout):

"I just think the media should take this country in a different direction," the 37-year-old actress tells the new issue of Los Angeles Confidential Magazine, on newsstands Aug. 15.

"We're so focused on the wrong things. We're teaching young girls that this is what they should be focusing on: rich and famous girls who are rich and famous for nothing."