"Political Correctness in the Newsroom" by Syndicated Columnist, Host, "The Capital Gang"

A free press is one of the foundations of a obert Novak writes "Inside free soct'ety. Yet Americans increasingly dis­ RReport," one of the longest­ running syndicated columns in the trust and resent the media. A major reason nation. With his partner, Rowland is that many journalists have crossed the line Evans, he also edits a newsletter, from reporting to advocacy. They have, in the Evans-Novall Political Report, effect, adopted a new liberal creed· "all the and hosts CNN's news that's 'politically correct' to print. " interview program, "Evans and Novak." ow does one define "political correct­ Additionally, ness" in the newsroom? One need look Mr. Novak is a rov­ no further than the new style book of ing editor for Hthe Los Angeles Times, one of the Reader's Digest, a largest, most influential newspapers in the frequent cohost nation. It forbids reporters to write about a of "Crossfire," an "Dutch treat" because this phrase is allegedly interviewer on "Meet insulting to the Dutch. Nor can one report that the Press," and the a person "welshed on a bet" because that would coexecutive pro­ be insulting to the Welsh, and one certainly ducer and host cannot write about a segment of our population of CNN's weekend once known simply as "Indians." They must roundtable, "The always be referred to as "Native Americans." Capital Gang." He Jokingly, I asked one of the Los Angeles Times bas written Tbe editors, "How do you refer to Indian summer? Is Agony of tbe GOP: 1964 and it now Native American summer?" He replied cowritten Lyndon B. }o/nlsoll: 1h that he would substitute "unseasonably warm Exercise of Power, Nlxml 111 tbe Wblte House, and Tbe Re11g1111 weather late in the year." Revolution. l This is what political correctness can do to language; it destroys meaning. It also demeans the ethnic groups it supposedly protects. Do we really think that these groups are so unintelli­ gent as to be unable to distinguish between conventional idioms and genuine prejudice? Is their identity so fragile that it must depend on censorship?

Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan 49242 HILLSOALE ' ...... --. LOLLEGE IMPRIMIS

People who believe in the real dignity of the cent of income earners in the nation. AWash­ individual, no matter what his race, sex, eth­ ington bureau chief makes over $100,000 a nicity, or other condition, shouldn't embrace year; a senior reporter makes over $70,000 a political correctness because it is bad philoso­ year. Is it surprising that many of them have phy-and reporters shouldn't because it is bad trouble understanding and appreciating the journalism. difficulties other Americans face or that they think differently from other Americans about Elitist Reporters such issues as taxes, government regulation, wenty-two years ago, I wrote a paper crime, family values, and religion? in which I alienated many of my col­ I also declared twenty-two years ago that leagues (and won the approval of a members of the national media tend to share few) for publicly stating that the a uniformly liberal ideology. This does not T mean they are secretly meeting every other national media-the five hundred or so reporters and editors based mainly in Washing­ week in someone 's basement to get their ton, D.C. who work for newspapers, wire ser­ marching orders. Rather, their ideology vices and television networks- had become originates from a number of left-of-center elitist. I noted that experiences in their reporters were no university education, longer the typical in their tightly-knit working-class pop­ peer groups, and in ulists of earlier years the milieu of popular who lived on small culture since the salaries and who had Sixties. constant contact with Am I exaggerat­ ordinary people, prob­ ing the impact of this lems, and views. liberal ideology? Of the But the members of five hundred or so the Washington press reporters and editors I corps are even more mentioned earlier, I elitist today. I am not am aware of only two just referring to who are well known, "media stars" like , admitted conserva­ Diane Sawyer, who is earning $7 million annu­ tives. Nationwide, there are only about ten edi­ ally. Most run-of-the-mill reporters and editors torial pages in America that could properly be in the national media are in the top 1-2 per- called "conservative" and that stance does not 2 extend beyond the editorial page at more than Advocacy Journalism a handful. At the very least, this striking imbal­ ance speaks volumes about the potential for here is no doubt that the strongest liberal ideology to dominate the news. trend in the media industry is toward advocacy journalism. The news sec­ Liberal Axioms Held by tions of most newspapers are even moreT ideological than when I first criticized the National Media them twenty-two years ago. Once the editorial f course, many journalists hotly deny page was the place for journalists to express that they are liberals. Others claim their opinions, but now they do so on every that they do not allow their liberalism page, including the front page-under the mis­ to influence their reporting. But here leading banner of objective reporting. O Increasing selectivity is also leading to are some unquestionably liberal "axioms" that I believe (based on polls and other sources as increasing bias; members of the media are not well as my own experience) are held almost only more subjective in determining whether a universally by the members of the national story will make it into the news but in deter­ media: mining what kind of "slant" it will be given and how much coverage it will receive. Even 1) The "rich" (and this covers many middle­ the wire services have succumbed, running class Americans) are getting richer and the (and not running) stories that in the past poor are getting poorer. The income of the would have gotten the reporters and editors rich should be redistributed to the poor. responsible for them fired. And, of course, the 2) Americans are undertaxed. Our taxes are well below those imposed in Europe, and the federal government should therefore raise rates, especially for those who earn more, save more, and invest more. "Once the editorial page 3) Government is, on the whole, a positive force in America that has done vastly was the place for journal­ more good than harm. ists to express their opin­ 4) The balanced budget amendment is a dangerous idea. ions, but now they do so 5) Term limit amendments are even more dangerous and are also undemocratic. on every page, including 6) There is a nationwide health care crisis, the front page-under the and only the government can solve it by establishing universal coverage for health misleading banner of insurance. 7) The "religious right" (a term that lumps objective reporting." millions of ordinary believers together with a few extremists) is a serious menace to the future of American society. 8) Being pro-choice is not enough; there worst examples of bias and selectivity are seen should be absolutely no interference with on network television programs, which have the reproductive rights of women. come to value "entertainment" more than the news. 9) To support school choice, whether Liberals often argue that conservative through vouchers or tax credits, is to bias-as evidenced by a growing number of support the destruction of all public conservative journalists ranging from William education. F. Buckley, Jr., to Rush Limbaugh-makes up 10) It is far better for the forces of the United for any liberal bias in the media and leads to States to be under multinational com­ "balance." But they are being disingenuous, mand than for them to be controlled by and not just because liberals greatly outnum­ our own military commanders. ber conservatives in the journalistic profession. 11) Conservatism is a narrow philosophy; lib­ Buckley, Limbaugh, and others like them are eralism, by contrast, is more broad, opinion journalists. They have never tried to unprejudiced, and compassionate. 3 HIUSDALE' ~...... _. L OLLEGE IMPHIMIS represent themselves otherwise. Moreover, bias journalism school; unfortunately, most of these of one kind cannot possibly "make up" for institutions are in the business of spreading other kinds. By all means, liberal and conserv­ bias and political correctness, not curbing ative views are welcome in certain areas of them. And there are none (with the notable journalism, but when they intrude on the exception of the National Journalism Center in objective reporting of the news, they are both Washington, D.C.,) that challenges the domi­ equally harmful. nant liberal ideology in the media. But one does not have to attend journalism school to Reforming the American learn the fundamental principles of good writ­ ing, reporting and editing, or to understand Media bias and how to avoid it. A good liberal arts ow do we return to the old standards education can provide ethical as well as acade­ of objectivity and "a fair press"? It is mic training. important for Americans to make Finally, action must be taken at the top; Htheir views known and to convince people who are dedicated to the principles of the media that reform is not only desirable but good journalism as well as the principles of necessary. But this is not enough. 1\venty-two good business must take leadership positions at years ago , I remarked that the pressure of or even buy newspapers, magazines, and televi­ public opinion would surely force the media sion stations. They cannot merely wait for the into more responsible behavior, but it has not current establishment to change-they must happened. lead the way. That is why we must also take special care The stakes are high. When the media is out to educate properly the young men and women of touch with its citizens, the nation is vulnera­ who want to pursue a career in journalism. ble-when facts bow to bias, truth is also in This is not an automatic recommendation for jeopardy. • Newsmakers and Mythmakers The Modern Media and Advocacy Journalism A Center for Constructive Alternatives Seminar • March 6-10,1994 "A Case Study in Media policies continued through the 1980s. By 1986, Bias: Reaganomics vs. major television network coverage of the econ­ Clintonomics" omy was down by 64 percent, and the ratio of negative to positive stories was seven to one. In L. Brent Bozell other words, as the economy was improving, Chairman, Media Research Center media reports on the economy were becoming increasingly negative. n the 1980s, One of the most common allegations in there was a con­ these reports was that the poor got poorer sensus among under Ronald Reagan, even though the actual I the members of number of poor declined from 14 percent to 13 the national media percent during his administration, and the that Ronald Reagan average income for the lowest one-fifth of was going to fail and Americans rose from $7,008 to $9,431. that he was going to Inflation declined from 8.9 percent to 4.6 bring on economic percent-a reduction of 48 percent. Unemploy­ disaster. But that con­ ment declined from 7.5 percent to 5.2 per­ sensus proved to be cent-a reduction of 45 percent. Interest rates wrong; the economy declined from 21 percent to 5.9 percent-a didn 't collapse. In reduction of 71.9 percent. 1\venty-one million fact, it soared to unprecedented levels. new jobs were created. The so-called "greedy The media stubbornly refused to admit that eighties" witnessed the largest peacetime eco­ "Reaganomics" was responsible. The drum­ nomic expansion in our nation's history, yet beat of negative opposition to the president's the media remained deaf, dumb and blind. • 4 "President Clinton "America's New and the Press" Power Brokers" Fred Barnes S. Robert Lichter Senior Editor, the New Republic Codirector, Center for Media and Public Affairs oticeably absent in f there is one the media's thing that has attitude changed Ameri­ Ntoward Bill Clinton is I can politics in the personal and ide­ the 20th century, it is ological hostility that the media. Journalists was directed toward are America's new Richard Nixon, Ger­ power brokers. Politi­ ald Ford, Ronald cians no longer fear Reagan and George the publishers of Bush. The media is newspapers; they fear not giving President the network anchors, Clinton a free ride, but it is not giving him the investigative even a quarter as rough a ride as they would be reporters and the syndicated columnists. Ordi­ giving a Republican president under the same nary journalists have become the arbiters of circumstances. political life. They have also become the inter­ Why is the media predisposed to go easy on preters rather than the mere reporters of the President Clinton? One reason is that most news. They don't simply tell you what is hap­ reporters belong to the same generation. They pening in the world; they tell you what you relate to him because they, too, protested the should think about it. • Vietnam War and were part of the countercul­ ture of . Another reason is they share the president's ideology. They believe in the lib­ "The Press and eral agenda and big government. Presidential Politics" President Clinton's personal charisma has also been an influential factor and particularly Lyn Nofziger affects upper middle class journalists. John Fo rmer Presidential Assistant Correy, a former reporter for the New York Times, explains: "A charismatic politician lib­ he press .•. erates the press's imagination and allows it w a n t s room to maneuver. The press sees stories where absolute there really are none and embellishes them freedom for with a romantic glow." itself,T but it often The most striking example of the media's sides with the actions bias in favor of Bill Clinton was the instant of the government shift in economic reporting that occurred after and the proposals of his election. In the months leading up to presidents that take November of 1992, coverage was overwhelm­ freedom away from ingly negative. But in the months after the individuals, from election, it was suddenly overwhelmingly colleges and univer­ positive, e,ven though the economy hadn't sities, from business­ changed. There is also a blatant double stan­ es and industries, and from the states. They are dard in the media that works to Bill Clinton's zealous defenders of their First Amendment advantage when negative stories do make rights, but they ignore the Tenth Amendment, it into the news, as we have seen with the which reserves to the states and to the people $200 hair cut story; "Travelgate"; alleged cases those powers not specifically granted to the fed­ of sexual misconduct; and the Whitewater eral government. • investigations. •

5 H ILLSDALE' ...... L OLLEGE IMPRIMIS "Television's Impart on the News" Brit Hume ABC News White House Correspondent

elevision news, like no other form of journal­ ism, gives you a feel for Twhat it was like to "be there" as the news is happening. And it lets you hear exactly what people have said and the way they said it. Television news is up against the same The second bias in the media comes from competitive pressures as all other news busi­ its emphasis on personalities rather than con­ nesses-it has to be accurate as well as interest­ cepts. It is hard to cover intangible principles ing. Sometimes, critics can rightly claim that and complex ideas, but it is easy to cover peo­ the networks place too high a priority on "sen­ ple and events. sational" stories, but the truth is that much of The third bias regards the question of the news ls sensational, i.e., it is compelling, reportable data. The media thrives on negative striking, and absorbing. statistics: It can tell you, for example, how Television has made the news more accessi­ many people were killed by handguns this year, ble and more immediate. People turn on the but not how many lives were saved by hand­ television at night and want to see what hap­ guns. pened earlier the same day. They don't expect The fourth bias is the bias of the media to be given an encyclopedic review of each itself. Fifty-five percent of all journalists identi­ event. They don't expect in-depth analysis in fy themselves as liberal, and at least 80 percent every story. They do understand the limits of are members of the Democratic party. television news as well as its unique benefits. • There is a great pretense of objectivity in the news even though most journalists have become subjective storytellers. Why is objectivi­ "Debate: Do Liberal Biases ty important? In a recent Times-Mirror poll, Americans were asked who sets the national Dictate the News?" agenda. Only 22 percent cited politicians; 43 Heather Richardson Higgins percent cited the media. The stories that we Executive Director, Council on Culture hear and see in the news become our reality. ;' and Community leanor Clift: vs. When dis ­ Eleanor Clih cussing the news, we Newsweek White House Correspondent E should remember that there is no such thing as absolute ~l~h~:d:a~ truth. Truth is elu­ Higgins: sive; truth can only There are a H be partially under­ number of struc~ural stood. Therefore no biases built into the one can be totally media. First, there is objective. the media's natural But I would argue that the media's real bias preference for simple, is not political or ideological. It is a bias for two-sided debates. It bad news, sensation, and controversy. The likes to reduce every labels liberal and conservative are out of date; issue to two extremist they really have nothing to do with the way positions. news is covered today. The name of the game 6 in the Washington press corps is to "kill the news, but it is not a magic bullet. Much king." Whoever is president is the king, and depends on the public's willingness to demand liberal reporters are not coming to President that news is fair and balanced. Reporters need Clinton's rescue. better education, especially about history and Nor are all members of the media liberal. economics, so they don't fall back on ideology Conservatives, for example, dominate am news as a substitute for knowledge. Consumers need radio. In the major television networks and to get more print media, journalists can't be too liberal or involved too conservative, or they'll lose their jobs. And with their in the boardrooms of most media organiza­ hometown tions there are numerous members of the newspapers Republican party. • and elec­ tronic media. Most "Old Fashioned Ethics and important, they should Newfangled Technology" assess the Tom Bray news criti­ cally; they Editorial Page Editor, Detroit News shouldn't believe he public wants less bias in the everything news-whether the bias is liberal or they see or conservative makes no difference. In hear. • addition to entertainment, people wantT more information and more facts. The information revolution has created more competition in the media industry, and this is bound to have a healthy effect on the

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