Media bias 101

This article in the L.A. Times is a textbook case of slanted coverage on an issue. It's an article on proposed legislation that would reform aspects of the Endangered Species Act. Reform is generally expected on such laws, but it appears that the article's author doesn't think so.

Read for yourself, but here are a couple highlights: The writer is careful to give various special-interest-sounding groups which are members of the lone Conservative, yet environmentally-sensitive-sounding organization ("Coalition for Habitat Conservation") cited in the article. We aren't given the benefit of information about the likely suspicion-spawning special interest groups that make up the Environmentalistic group cited in opposition to the proposed changes.

Also, the writer attempts to paint a picture of the bill's sponsor, Rep. Pombo (great name, I think) by listing any and every "controversial" position he's ever taken on such matters. We aren't given a similar overview of the people who are opposing his bill. It'd be equally-relevant for the reader to know that opponents of the bill have supported people-hating, tree-hugging legislation that is at least arguably "outside the mainstream" on the issue.

I have to say that it is pretty impressive that this legislation has bi-partisan support.