"Political Correctness in the Newsroom" by Robert Novak 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.