Media must go back to non-partisan coverage

Various surveys over recent years - such as those by Columbia University, Roper Center, Gallup and Harris polls - have documented how little credibility the dominant media now have with the general public.

According to the polls, a big reason why the dominant media have so little credibility with the public is that many people view them as biased.

Surveys of news producers, editors, and reporters have documented that many more of them self-identify as liberal rather than conservative. And research into their financial contributions to political campaigns give an overwhelming advantage to Democrats as opposed to Republicans.

Studies have also documented that Democrats clearly get more favorable coverage from the dominant media than Republicans - so much so that even some firmly liberal media members do not deny it and admit it.

Once upon a time, the dominant media were more non-partisan. It is no coincidence that they also had more credibility then, and more financial support from the public. The dominant media have alienated so much of the general public that many of those media are now struggling financially.

This recent trend to more partisan media is not healthy for our society. By their very nature, partisan media - whether liberal or conservative - are not as trustworthy, not as fair, not as objective, are more discriminatory, etc. This trend needs to be reversed, and soon.

We the people must get that message to the media loudly and clearly.

Wayne Lela

Woodridge, Ill.