The real CBS bias.(Opinion)

Broadcasting & Cable, January, 2005

Did CBS News executives let their bias blow up what may potentially have been a big story on the eve of an even bigger election? Yes, but that answer depends on what bias we're talking about. If we are talking about the journalist's bias for the "big get," yes, CBS was guilty.

That is the bias that really did in the network. It's odd, too, because the story of President Bush's less-than-distinguished National Guard experience was, months before the election, more or less conceded. This was a story that was around in 2000, but the Swift Boat attacks on Sen. Kerry gave 60 Minutes a new hook for a thorough re-examination of Bush's National Guard record.

And as we've noted before, the rush to beat bloggers and the 24-hour news operations next door...