PressEthic

I was reminded of Kevin's bias presentation in class when I came across this blog. If you have a .pdf reader, I recommend clicking on the link at the beginning to see the cover of the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday. If you can't see it, or if you simply don't feel like clicking on the link, I will provide an explanation here.

The cover story for the LAT is about how Gov. Schwarzenegger is dominating the media attention over his opponent Phil Angelides in California. A large photo of Schwarzenegger triumphantly walking through Times Square dominates the page above the fold, taking up 3 of the 6 columns. Under the fold is an image of Angelides which is not even 1/10th of the size of the picture of Arnold. Further, Angelides is shown with his head resting on his hand, in an almost submissive pose.

The images used in the front page and then later in the story, as commented on in Bob Harris' blog, incredibly play right into the story. The story continues inside the paper, with one other photo of Arnold and none of Angelides. Here's the entire article for those interested.

So how does the Los Angeles Times explain how Schwarzenegger has dominated the media coverage, including their own newspaper?

As for free media coverage, Angelides has struggled from the start to draw a fraction of what Schwarzenegger routinely gets, often in high-profile venues with no tough questions. On "Monday Night Football," he appeared in the middle of a Chargers-Raiders game with a California firefighter who had been a 9/11 rescue worker.

Said Michael Terris, a campaign consultant who worked for Angelides when he ran for treasurer: "No one can compete with that kind of exposure. It's not like you can claim equal time on 'Monday Night Football.' "

Funny how the example given of media exposure is such an extreme, when purportedly objective publications, such as the Los Angeles Times, are falling prey to the same type of bias.