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September 03, 2004

More Fair and Balanced

Let's face it: if you believe the media tilts to the right, there's very little I can say to dissuade you of that belief. Nor will I be able to convince you that the media isn't biased if you're convinced that it's objective. Conversely, it's probably pretty unlikely that you're going to get me to believe that the media isn't biased to the left. (That's a problem; I really ought to come up with some criteria that, if met, would demonstrate the media's lack of bias. But that's another essay.)

Still, today's AP story about a Bush rally in Wisconsin does deserve some attention, I think. For those of you not already familiar with the story (it's already getting heavy play in the blogosphere), the AP released a story today that read as follows:

WEST ALLIS, Wis. - President Bush (news - web sites) on Friday wished Bill Clinton (news - web sites) "best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery." "He's is in our thoughts and prayers," Bush said at a campaign rally. Bush's audience of thousands in West Allis, Wis., booed. Bush did nothing to stop them. Bush offered his wishes while campaigning one day after accepting the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in New York. Clinton was hospitalized in New York after complaining of mild chest pain and shortness of breath. Bush recently praised Clinton when the former president went to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait. He lauded Clinton for his knowledge, compassion and "the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president."

Sadly for the AP, a number of people who had attended the rally all said that there were no such boos, and that the AP report was incorrect. Demonstrating editing skills that would have made Oceania's Ministry of Truth proud, the AP removed the offending phrases without noting that the article had changed.

Perhaps this was just another honest mistake by the AP, one that inadvertently favored John Kerry at a time he appears to be in some trouble. But even if we stipulate that the reporter simply made an error, shouldn't the AP actually acknowledge that error, rather than simply editing it out of the record? Particularly when other press outlets are now picking up the original story, potentially creating a PR issue for President Bush over an issue that was completely in the imagination of an AP reporter. Maybe the press isn't biased; but if it isn't biased, it sure seems like they're incompetent instead.

Hat tip: Power Line.