Thank you for articulating what I find to be a grave concern. For the "change" candidate to not allow Visitor Lists to be released as reported by MSNBC today and to have the media so besotted by a leader that they fail to do their work consequently empowering that leader to have an unreasonable bully pulpit power I find troubling for the 4th estate and its role in governance.
Our country has many complex problems at present which deserve proper articulation and airing between the citizenry and its leaders. The role of the press must be more than cheerleader.

I wish this would start to happen, but I don't see it will. It hasn't so far, so why would it change? After all, you even admit it is about ratings, and as long as the popularity of the President is over 60 and the public is in awe, there is no chance that the press is going to do anything to jeopardize their position with the President.

Too bad that many of us who would never watch Fox, find ourselves in their website to hear at least a sliver of objectivity. It is sad state of affairs having to state the above.

Did you question the media's bias for all things Bush during W's administration?

If so congratulations and stop reading now.

If not - consider that even the MsM was in love with all things Dubya and glossed it over in the name of wartime patriotism. It was, to be blunt, fear of losing access to the Rove dominated WH. Witness the move of Helen Thomas to the back of the press room.

Wow.....thank you. It is refreshing to FINALLY see some honest feedback about the TV media's relationship with the white house. Since America's opinions are basically divided 50/50 on almost any subject, when only a single major news outlet is questioning white houses policies that should speak volumes on TV media preferences.

Well, dear me, buddy, but where the heck were you doing the past eight years of Constitution-shredding, blood-letting murderers in the White house? Why didn't you complain then that Fox News was the propaganda station for Bush and his warmongering cronies while the "wimpy liberal press and TV" was the only voice in the wilderness?

You a Fox fanatic who salivates when Jack Bauer tortures "terrorists"? Why don't you ask Ailes for a job?

Fold your tent and go home; or just simply report on your local Orioles. Leave the political reporting to the unbiased professionals.

Mr. Zurawik, Please get your facts straight before writing anymore of this non-sense. It doesn't take rocket science to see the bias reporting that goes on with any news cast. This includes all three major networks and the cable new channels. Please do not think the public stupid for something that is in front of their face. Fox just happens to give the other side of the story instead of just the Liberal/Democratic side of the story.

I think this is a great, and fair article. Thank you. My only problem with all media these days is that everyone is so bent on distorting pure and simple facts with their own biased opinions. Is there not anywhere we can go these days to just get the facts? Even if I agree with the opinions, it still is not right. This blog relays everything in a non-biased view. Thanks again.

David you are right on the money! The media has fallen in love with the rock star. Never will his shortcomings come to light as long as he owns them and gives them good ratings. I have long said that we live in the greatest country in the world - but it is broken. I just hope that it is not broken beyond repair.

Our new president does not want to work with congress and he certainly is not interested in accomplishing anything on a bipartisan basis. He wants things done on his terms and his terms alone. Everything is a campaign for him. There is a fine line between his campaugn activities and his administration activities. Sometimes I think we elected the DNC to run our country!

We are on a dangerous path leading to government control of our health, our wealth, and our daily lives. It is a frightening thought that we will probably have to give up some of the freedoms we have grown accustomed to.

Thank you for your insight on the media and its relationship with our president.

I think the reluctance to discuss it is a feeling of powerlessness to change it. It is a shame that more people respond to Jon and Kate or David and Palin. The issues facing our country are much more important. I caught that news cast about Obama saying that FOX never cast him in a positive light. All the news stations need to put ratings aside and give the American people what they need real journalism, maybe we would feel like we had more of a voice if we had a choice. We should demand better journalism, there is power in numbers.

Give us a break from obama stuff. I quit watching the news even Fox's all they have is where obama is, what he is doing, where him and her went to eat, even down to the kind of hamburgers he eats, of course I never read it,but that the Headlines you can't miss or get away from. All papers, news sites, internet is obama, obama, obama give us a break. There is lot of people who DID NOT vote for obama, and is so sick of all the coverage of him. I would rather see President Bush, anyone but obama and his bunch in the white house

THANK YOU for writing about this. Politics aside, the dipsarity in the amount of coverage he gets compared to other presidents & their initiatives is very wide.

How can a president promote massive change when he of all people allows decrimination against gays. He lied the way all politicians lie. He is no better than everyone else

Bravo David - I wish you had a larger stage from which to shout this message to the apathetic masses.

Sadly, most would still not hear and comprehend your point.

What a blank check this administration has been given.

AT 63 years old I have been watching tv news since Walter Cronkite. And though I was not nearly as aware in those days, it doesn't take anyone who listens and is not partisan, to realize that the major media has been using its power over the braindead unwashed masses for years to push agendas that they feel are good for this country and that just happen to be the darling projects of the Democrat Party since Roosevelt. To say that they don't skew the news to their own partisan position is to forget Reagan, Bush and Bush. Just compare the tenor and selection of coverage then and during Clinton and now Obama. It doesn't matter whether you agree with their positions or not, you would have to be partisan brain dead not to see the differences. Which, unfortunately is the lowest common denominator trait among Americans.

Good for you Mr. Zurawik for speaking out on this topic. The main stream media should be ashamed of the hypocrisy and bias they are showing when covering the Obama administration.

you are not that smart.(ok maybe the last line). get over it dude, manipulation of the press??????
ha ha ha
you're dumb and dumber
take off your rose colerds man
be nice to nature and women and minoritys.
reds are endangered. so dumb

Anyone that gives creedence to anything involving Fox News...ought to be taken into the street and beaten severely...if we had objective critiques I would be fine with any challenge to obama and policy but that is hardly objective...that is purely subjective and hinging on the extreme right, dangerous to our democracy, as a nation...I'm glad you caught yourself in the end of this article, but if there was any huge violator of anything to do with ethical journalism or communications standards, it would be Fox news...There is a good documentary out there called, "outfoxed, Rupert Murdoch's war on journalism" and Fair.org media watchdog organization which monitors all major media outlets and catches them on their unethical or biased approaches at journalism...Fox news is by far the biggest violator on T.V...Shame on you for even sugesting at least we have Fox News...they are the very thing that ruined everything in journalism.

It must suck to be old and jaded. God Bless America and Bless President Obama.

you keep hating from your type writer, while our Pres will continue working and doing his best for our country.

FOX has been all critism all the time on Obama, so if that's what you want just tune into them. There doesn't seem to be any shortage of 'reporting' from the RNC, Newt Gingrich, Dick Cheney or Rush Limbaugh either, so I'm not sure what you're complaining about.

Thank you Mr. Zurawik. You have probably written the most succinct, accurate story about the "State-of-journalism today" that I have ever seen. Of course, you will be attacked because you are holding the harsh light of truth above the media and the media will not like what that light reveals. When the press ceases performing it's main responsibility of unbiased reporting, it ceases deserving the special privileges the the Founding Fathers intended for them. It's apparent that the media has forgotten that with great power comes great responsibility. Perhaps your missive will make a few journalists return to the level of unbiased professionalism that it once had.

I guess you forgot about how Bush successfully manipulated the media into supporting the war in Iraq. Just admit that you're a neocon already and stop lying about how you criticize the left and right equally.

Excellent.

Excellent.

There is a sincere difference between asking objective questions about policy and it's another thing to attack...attacking is never good journalism, it isn't even within appropriate communications standards...and it's very sad that this same network misled our country and has been privy to riling up the extremist portion of the conservative right...which has resulted in some very scary things that have happened all over the country...Fox news is one of the worst things to happen to cable news television...those who watch their network are usually some of the most misinformed about social/political/foreign policy, as many polls show...it's okay to question, such is the essence of a democracy...even Obama welcomes it, we've all seen it...but to openly and baselessly attack and purposely misconstrue and lie is something else...but for you to give any validation to such a network whose sole purpose is to push republican right wing agenda, even if they have to purposely mislead people in doing so, is a travesty...I wish someone would scrutinize your articles before they are allowed to be punished...again, it's one thing to question, it's another thing to excuse the inexcusable! Shame on you!

David: You need to put your perspective hat on. This is no different than during the W years when the mainstream press failed to push back on Bush for his story of WMD's and the Iraq war. Back then the shoe was on the other foot. Fox was the only one giving glowing reports regardless of whether Bush was right or wrong. I do wish that all media outlets would do a better job of asking the tough questions of any administration but this is far from being new to those on the right.

DAZ: "Mommy! Mommy! The bad pwezident is using the tewivision to sell us health care versus a war in Iwaq! WAHHH!!! Pweeze make him stop. I don't want to go to the doctor!! I want to go shoot my BB gun!!

Mommy: DAZ! Please take down that picture of the new president. Use this older president's picture instead."

Thank you. I wondered if I was just being overly sensitive to the bias because I am a republican. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way. And I'm glad someone a little more reasonable than Fox news, or Rush Limbaugh is saying so. Thanks again for the article.

Good article. Interesting how coverage of the president is either fawning or fearful. On the left, we're encouraged to see his policy as transcendent, progressive, and long overdue. On the right, we're hammered with the message that Obama will bring socialism, new forms of corruption, and a collapse of the American way. Personally, I think the point of view being most overlooked is that this new president, like virtually all before him, is doing both good and bad things for America. Instead of lumping all his actions into either category, we should acknowledge that our very popular president is bound to make some bad mistakes that will harm America. However, he clearly wants to improve America's battered economy and social services, and in that endeavor we should all support him with a suspicious and watchful eye.

Wow! I’m amaze of how bias the author is. First, let us not congratulate Fox News just yet. Like other media organizations Fox News is also looking for ratings. They are misleading ill informed listeners rather then being a public source of information, they are a non-constructive source of misguided individual who care more about perusing their own interests rather than the public interest-just because one can speak negatively about something doesn’t mean what they have to say has any meaning. Second, the President has an overwhelming task with the worse economy not seen in my 26yrs of life. Give the man a chance to do his job! Obama has been in office for how long? Be critical of course to voice your opinion, but be constructive about it, not engage in mindless, “reckless and irresponsible words uttered by the likies Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity” as the author puts its. Finally, if the author believes as quoted above, why in the world would you listen to someone who utters worlds that are reckless and irresponsible and calls them a watch dog? After 24 yrs of reporting, I would assume an acquisition of some type of knowledge and wisdom from the author. Thank you

Thanks Dave. I promise not to keep making so many comments on your posts, but I wanted to say one thing about this one. Satan is a pretty smart guy and he knows how to get things done. Before he was kicked out of heaven with his fellow angels, I believe he had something to do with music and getting the message out. What a shame so many people fall for it. Thanks.

It is disturbing that our free press is allowing yet another president to disappear into a bubble. Fox isn't helping any with its knee-jerk anti-antics either - who listens to someone who has earned the reputation for always bringing opinions to the table but often leaving the facts at home?

Nobody, especially someone who is smart and knows he is smart, should be allowed to believe that he is always right, because that just never happens. This is especially true when you have a smart man trying to accomplish so much at the same time that he may not have time to think as deeply as he should before he acts.

When do you think the TV press began this backward slide from watchdog responsibility? (Mr. Murrow come back - all is forgiven!)

Thanks for raising an alarm on this.

OK, Dave....The problem with the cable news networks in general is this..It is ALL about politics...or Jon and Katie.
Have they lost the true meaning of the concept of News reporting? Do they really believe that America gives two flying flamingos about politics 24/7?
As for Fox News, come on now mate...

Hi Ray, the deletion was in keeping with a policy that I am fair game for criticism on this blog. But other folks at this paper are not -- at least on this blog. Thanks. Z

... You are simply coming to realize what many of us have known for years: the mainstream press operates under a double standard and its reporting is not to be trusted.

Health care is about the lives of americans, If ABC is putting ratings ahead of the health and well being of americans then that entire network should be shut down, people like charlie gibson and diane sawyer care about one thing putting more money in their own pockets and living a lifestyle that they feel they deserve, if americans end up with sub standard health care that's just to bad,probably I will boycott ABC and will probably never return.

I don't like the fact that FOX calls us the Fox Nation. We are an American nation entiltled to eqaul viewpoints so that we can weigh it objectively. I do like RockstarDave's comment about both good and bad.

this is a test

It is interesting that most of the attacks on the thoughts expressed here seem to have one common theme. Bush did it and got away with it for eight years, which pretty much erodes all credibility of their complaint.

Look at the position the country is in after Bush, and he had a fairly meek group in the briefing room for the 1st few years of the war. Do we really want that again, not a big fan of FOX but someone needs to ask tough questions and do their jobs.

Seriously having a cheerleading press did not work so well for us as a nation last time, so why is it good now? Its not; the press needs to ask tough questions because the average citizen will never be able to and decisions being made now will impact our lives for years to come.

Michie is right. Bush didn't get away with anything. Anyone who thinks so is delusional.

But even those who think so obviously weren't reading this column in those years. Mr Zurawik has said plenty of critical -- even harsh -- things about Fox over the years.

The bizarre thing is that Obama's supporters are just as deluded as Obama. He doesn't think he should be criticized by the press, nor do they. But folks, that's a very unhealthy situation for a democracy.

Mr. Zurawik is performing a valuable service by reminding everyone, especially the press, that this is a necessary function.

To the person who said FOX fans should be dragged into the streets and beaten - your liberal tolerance is sooo heartening. FOX does have liberals and conservatives discussing news and issues. That is not something you see on the networks. Did you think Obama was joking when he said of the media "All of you voted for me"? Obama's administration deserves a boatload of sunshine because the man has no respect for the Constitution or the laws of this country. He is not a dictator - although obviously he believes he is. The media could put this man in his place in a minute - and do it honestly - if they were not in bed with him.

I'm a moderate Democrat myself who voted for Obama, also one who has very rarely watched Fox news. I've stopped watching the others for the reasons you've articulated so well.

To my fellow Democrats: Bush isn't the president any more, Congress and the presidency are entirely in our hands at last. We're in a position to do some good and to right some of the wrongs of the Bush years.

That being said, the MoveOn/Kos act is stale, and the longer people are unable get past the Bush years the less likely it is we'll continue to attract the independents we need. They seem to be moving to the right, and I doubt Fox news is the problem. After all, the majority of them tuned out Fox long ago and voted for Obama. If there was one thing that attracted my independent friends and colleagues it was the promise of a new kind of politics, one that transcended the insane partisanship of recent years.

For the sake of the party and the country please get over it: we won, and now that our party is in power we should expect and even welcome criticism. Calling for our political adversaries to be taken out in the streets and beaten, writing hate-filled comments accusing others of hatred, pounding the table with the tired and still unproven accusation that Bush lied about WMD's, none of this is helpful. You and I both had many good reasons to disapprove of the Bush administration. Why don't we stick to those and bring them up only when necessary? To do otherwise is to give the lie to much of what Obama promised.

The time for angry tirades is past, if indeed they ever did any good at all. They didn't elect Obama or help gain a Democratic majority in Congress, and they certainly won't help keep it that way.

The point of the article is that the news media are disgracing themselves. I agree entirely. If they keep up what they've been doing their credibility will continue to whither away, and their impact on future elections will be much weaker. To those not emotionally invested in a partisan way of life they come across as the faithful preaching to the faithful. When dissent or criticism is shouted down or ignored you can expect surprises, and at this very good moment for the party we really shouldn't want to be surprised.

Fox News is actually fair and balanced. Those who disagree have not watched the channel. There have been many independent non profit organizations that have evaluated bias in news organizations and have verified the balance shown on Fox. ABC,CBS and NBC are unwatchable in their bias toward the left as are most of the major newspapers including the Sun. Journalists blame the Internet for the decline of the news industry when it fact it is their constant leftist slant that has been their demise. They are so in the tank and their associations are so parochial and insular that they don't even recognize their bias anymore. Thus we have this ABC infomercial for the Obama health care program which is about to destroy the best health care system in the world. If you doubt it please explain why people from all over the world come here when they have a health crisis. Our country will end up like Britain and Canada if we adopt the Obama plan. The elderly will be neglected in favor of procedures for younger citizens and all of us will wait and wait often resulting in death.

You mean this press, that was absolutely ANTI-Bush during the last 8 years> the press that superimposed a target over W's face?
Or like this link SHOWS, we DID find WMD in Iraq?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/07/iraq.uranium/

Anyone who says the press was pro-Bush is a hyper-partisan fool

It is important as a citizen to research what our government is doing "on your behalf". This health care bill will not be 100% disclosed until AFTER it is voted in. This is no different than the economic stimulus bills that were pushed through WITHOUT our ability to read it...sadly, also without most of your legislatures voting "on your behalf".

Most Americans have been wither "too busy" or "too trusting" of our elected officials. Now, many have resorted to fighting amongst ourselves and blaming citizens for the actions of our President and Congress. (former and current) Only a very small minority of people review the bills in full without media doing the work and adding the bias for them.

If you are a citizen of the US and believe in a Democracy, you should be a little bristled regardless of your "Party politics". However, if you want Socialism and look fondly to Government control...this is where America is headed!

Z, I can't agree more. American journalism is sagging across the board right before our eyes. In a time where the political checks and balances have been wiped out through elections, we need an unbiased press more than ever. I'd even settle for unbiased, if it wasn't going so far as to distort the facts in order to push a network agenda.

I also have to say that I do think Bush got off light compared to the magnitude of some of the things he did. Some want the alarm to be rung on going to socialism under Obama, but no one was ringing any bells when we were stripping human rights down to the core domestically in ways that would make men like Jefferson get their quils out again. Obama definitely gets a free pass in the ratings grab, but Bush bullied his way to low scrutiny in the mainstream. How many reporters/editors got tagged as unpatriotic calling into question some of the post 9/11 torture strategies and falsely claimed links between Al-Queda and Iraq (Mike, your own article states the yellowcake uranium was not enriched and NOT weapons grade. Definitely NOT a WMD according to Bush's own Pentagon spokesman)? Though the bullying did allow Dan Rather to be avalailable for a HILARIOUS cameo on the Daily Show last night.

You neglected to ask 2 important questions.
Did a network ever offer the same to the Bush administration? And was it denied?
After 8 years of secrets in the White House, this is what we need. A president that has a plan and wants to talk about it.

FOX "News" is a joke. They're not a news station; they're a propaganda channel for the dying Republican party.

As for MSNBC, they've been very critical of Obama lately. Not for the reasons Fox is critical, but critical nonetheless, because Obama hasn't pushed his agenda through Congress with the "F-off" attitude Bush pushed his horrible policies through.

Obviously, you don't watch much MSNBC if you are under the impression they're having an Obama-lovefest over there.

You have to be kidding that the press gave Bush a pass on anything. From the first day of the Iraq war they were calling it a quagmire, about all the body bags that would be needed, etc. And right from the election they were leading the charge that he stole the election, even after it was proven he won. The press never gave him all the softball interviews that theygive Obama.

Fox news may be tilted slightly more toward the republicans, but the democrat party has NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, the New York Times, The Washington Post, The LA Times, The Dailey Show, The Colbert Report, etc., etc., etc.

ChickaBOOMer: FOX Wins Praise By Refusing Obama's Pay To Play
http://chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2009/06/fox-wins-praise-by-refusing-obamas-pay.html

Baltimore Sun Critic Praises Fox News For Giving Obama the 'Tiny Bit of Scrutiny' He Faces On TV
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/sam-theodolopoulos/2009/06/18/sun-critic-praises-fox-news-denounces-tv-press

Finally, someone is pointing out that the media is totally in the bag for Obama...fawning and bowing and scraping. Ask Hillary Clinton if Fox News is biased. Yes, the democrats did win this past election cycle, but with universal health care being pushed, pushed pushed (and those who disagree made to feel guilty) then who is really winning when we've mortgaged ours, and our kids' futures? Good editorial. More like that would be great....

Well articulated opinion. The naysayers speak from ignorance comparing the "equal treatment" given the Bush administration, which is patently false and proven by numerous studies. Be it article headlines, column inches, etc., the favorable treatment given to Obama and Democrats far outpaces that given to Republican and conservative concerns.

What kind of parallel universe do you have to live in to believe the press was ever "pro-Bush?" I do disagree with one part of this article where it states that the press is in the tank for Obama only for ratings and not partisan political ones. The media are indeed in the tank for Obama partially because of politics -- they AGREE with his stance on the issues. And as we've seen from Fox News, you can oppose the President and still enjoy higher ratings. So that ratings only excuse just doesn't wash.

I appreciate this and agree with all of it. Except I believe you do Fox an injustice by identifying it with the execarable and pompous Hannity and O'Reilly. This fails to identify the real value of Fox. Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday with its mixed conservative-liberal panel, and the same on its daily evening Special Report with Bret Baer (formerly hosted by Brit Hume) are now the ONLY honest TV journalism left in America. Neil Cavuto's afternoon financial news show is also the best on that facet of life, hence Obama's contempt in not allowing his "Pay Czar" even to appear on Cavuto. If people do not watch these shows, I wish they would please not watch any of the others. Please.

The majority of the posts I have read have chastised Fox for being far to the right and biased towards conservatives. I can't understand why people have such hate towards a station that I feel is the most balanced of all of them. They do ideologically charged commentators but the majority of the day includes Fair and Balanced reporting requiring both sides to be reported. I feel the media overall has a "Slobbering Love Affair" with Obama and Fox refuses to get sucked in. From another article about this subject I read, Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto commenting saying “If you dismiss us, why do you keep talking about us? If you’re so powerful, why do you sound so petty? “And if you remind folks that you are president of all the people, which you are, why ignore those who challenge you, which you do?”

It is HIGHLY un-presidential to be out in the open constantly criticizing one part of the media that disagrees with you. I think he is insecure because he has NEVER been challenged before from the IL Senate to the White House. The media has ALWAYS loved him. Now he is showing that criticism affects him. That shows weakness.

I’m wondering how you reviewed Fox’s “unprecedented” portraits of Bush & Cheney over the past 8 years.

http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001852/

Finally, we see the truth in print that the rest of us have been seeing for a long time. Obama basks in the adoration of the media, with the exception of Fox News, but he can't stand the fact that they don't love him, too. I always thought journalists reported the facts to the reader without any personal bias, however, perhaps there aren't any journalists left. For sometime I have been debating about canceling my subscription to the Sun due to their liberal bias, but recently I have seen a glimmer of honest reporting. Obama is not the chosen one, although I do believe he thinks he is. That's why he can't take criticism, but I think he better get used to it because many Americans are getting fed up with him pushing his socialist programs and crying wolf to get them passed. He must be afraid he won't have a majority in Congress after 2010.

I guarantee that there would be an endless stream of stories about breadlines and soup kitchens if McCain had won the election. It seems that the network news pitches "story-lines" instead of news. It like the stories about the homeless that came out once Reagan was elected president and disappeared the minute Clinton was sworn in. The homeless people didn't disappear - but the stories did.
Instead, we are treated to stories about Obama's dog, his wife's fashion sense and their dates in Paris - while America suffers.
I am not saying that things would necessarily be different if someone else were elected president, but the story line pitched on the network news certainly would.

Perhaps Obama meant to call his critics was "Nattering nabobs of negativity" - or does that go back to far to resonate?