re: #186 calcajun

That’s not exactly true. The press has always been about shaping and influencing public opinion— all the way back to Paine’s “Common Sense” which was run in papers and sold as a pamphlet.

The last thing I am saying is that bias is anything new. The whole idea of an objective, neutral press would have been quite alien to the Founding Fathers. It is an impossibility, in fact; but the pretense of neutrality, originated by wire services in the 19th century, led to unlimited authority and power and to the abuse of that power. Where the current media differ from the traditional free press is in the attempt to conceal their agenda. This sub rosa exercise of influence is what empowers them, since their various styles of influence will not work if the purpose is stated openly.