L.A. Times admits its own bias

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 30, 2002 | David Shaw

[Why_do_I_need_a_screen_name?]

The following is a short excerpt of a much larger article entitled "The Times Faulted for Downplaying Secession".

Note the part where the Managing Editor says that the succession movement should not be treated as cartoon characters (which is the manner that they treat the religious right).

What gall!!

The tone of Times coverage was sometimes derisive, as when a veterinarian serving on the Local Agency Formation Commission, the entity charged with determining whether to put secession on the ballot, was described in a 1999 story as "a horse doctor." Secession proponents are still outraged by the tone of many Valley Edition editorials and by the writings of Scott Harris, a Valley Edition columnist in the '90s, who called secession advocates "Valleyistas" and likened elements of the secession process to a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta.

[Why_do_I_need_a_screen_name?]

We have always known that the L.A. Times is biased, so I guess this isn't breaking news. The L.A. Times admitting that it is biased, however, is breaking news. It just amazes me when they directly admit that they are biased. We know they are biased. They know they are biased, even though they keep claiming that they aren't biased to the masses.

I would write a letter to the editor of the L.A. Slimes but I just do not trust any of them.

[Risky Schemer]

In conversations with Times staff members in recent months, Managing Editor Dean Baquet has warned against covering secession the way the religious right is sometimes covered, with its leaders treated like cartoon characters.

Yes but I'm sure they mean good cartoon characters like Spider-man and Captain America.

</sarcasm>

[OldFriend]

That's right...save the ridicule, bias, and dismissive attitude for the religious right where it belongs!!!

[BunnySlippers]

This is just two days after the Valley paper admitted that they are biased in favor of sucession. Besides, I'm not in favor of the Valley suceeding anyway.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Times journalists have a cultural mind-set that puts them at odds with what he calls "the middle-class rebellion of the Valley."

In other words, the journalists can't relate to decent people who work for a living and don't live in a whiny victimhood "give me a handout" mindset.

[Lazamataz]

Why_do_I_need_a_screen_name?

Everybody's got a cool screen name but me. :o(

[Why_do_I_need_a_screen_name?]

The point of the post was not that the L.A. Times is biased against succession (which was the point of their article), but the fact that they feel that it is perfectly ok to ridicule the religious right.

[elbucko]

"...people not sociologically similar to reporters at The Times...."

I think this must be a typo. This part of the sentence should read:

"...people not biologically similar to reporters at The (LA) Times..."

Anyone who has ever met a reporter or editor from the LA Times has come away with the feeling that they are from another planet.

[RoseofTexas]

Perhaps the boycott is working and they are hurting in the pocket book...I know wishful thinking :)

[Loc123]

We all know all the "Times" are horribly biased. What struck my about this article was how poorly written it was. As I begun to read the first paragraph I was suddenly stricken with boredom and frustration at its lofty and circumlocutous writing. *Sign* 11th grade students can write a lot better than this lofty piece of shite.

[Aim small miss small]

Besides, I'm not in favor of the Valley suceeding anyway.

Hi Bunny, can you give me your thoughts on why you are against this? I know the valley is a doner as far as taxes to the rest of the city. And I can understand why they do not want to be ruled by those Democrat idiots on the city council. But anyway, what are your thoughts?

[heleny]

L.A. Times is biased against succession

I read a LAT article last weekend about apathetic responses to their informal polling of people's opinions on the secession issue. Many people mistakenly thought they were asking whether the Valley should succeed.

KNX 1070 radio reporters often mispronounce "secession" and "secede" as if the words had two c's. They mispronounce many other English words, too; the quality of their hires seems to be going downhill.

If the LATimes botches the Valley issues, hopefully more people notice the bias and will cancel their subscriptions.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Well, you don't.

Just post your real name, address, phone number (with area code) social security number and credit card numbers.

You may also want to include any financial account numbers and PINs you have lying around.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Well, you don't.

Just post your real name, address, phone number (with area code) social security number and credit card numbers.

You may also want to include any financial account numbers and PINs you have lying around.

[rustbucket]

Secession? We in the South tried that a long time ago. Hope you have better luck than we did.