Today's Mainstream Media Bias Lesson

Compare the following stories. The first is from the NY Times.

Blagojevich Speaks at Impeachment Trial, in Wiretaps Only
By MONICA DAVEY
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —

For a few moments on Tuesday, it seemed that Rod R. Blagojevich, this state’s beleaguered governor, had arrived for his impeachment trial after all.

Here at last was his voice echoing through the high-ceilinged Senate chambers. It was the public’s first chance to hear telephone conversations by the governor that federal agents say they secretly recorded before they arrested him on corruption charges last month.

For those who had heard prosecutors’ descriptions of Mr. Blagojevich’s foul-mouthed, crass demands for money, a job or a cabinet post in exchange for the Senate seat President Obama vacated, the four recordings played in these halls might have seemed casual, elliptical, even forgettable.

But even these few minutes of recordings which, prosecutors said, revealed Mr. Blagojevich’s effort to collect money from a horse track owner in exchange for signing legislation to benefit the racing industry, left lawmakers here reeling, they said. Senators said there was something powerful in hearing the actual ringing of a telephone, a voice they knew well, and the urgency in that voice that a deal be struck “before the end of the year though, right?”

“It hits me right here in my stomach,” Senator Dan Cronin, a Republican, said as he left the chamber. “It sort of reminds me of some Hollywood movie or a couple of thugs in a car driving around. It’s so surreal and so perverse. But I think hearing it, hearing those voices that I recognize and knowing exactly what they’re doing, it’s a real bad feeling.”

You have to go to paragraph #5 before you see any party affiliation, and that is some Republican senator who is not even close to being the main subject of the article.

Now for a story from the Chicago Tribune.

Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been removed from office
By Ray Long and Rick Pearson Tribune staff reporters
January 30, 2009

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -

Sweeping aside six years of scandal and crippling political infighting with a historic impeachment vote, the state Senate on Thursday ousted one governor for abusing his power and anointed another who built his political career around having no power at all.

Senators voted 59-0 to remove Rod Blagojevich, who walked out of the silent chamber after delivering an impassioned plea for mercy. Within hours they applauded his former running mate and lieutenant governor, Patrick Quinn, who was sworn in as the state's 41st governor vowing a new course for Illinois.

No party affiliation in the opening paragraphs (although it does mention it much later on)

Next up is an AP story.

Gov. Blagojevich's impeachment trial rolls along
By CHRISTOPHER WILLS –
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) —

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial turned Wednesday to issues that had nothing to do with allegations he tried to sell President Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat — instead focusing on accusations he broke hiring laws, wasted taxpayer money and illegally defied the state Legislature.

Impeachment prosecutor David Ellis opened the third day of proceedings by saying he planned to trim his witness list to avoid repeating material, meaning testimony could wrap up Wednesday.

Among those expected to testify were Auditor General William Holland, whose reviews of government agencies often found examples of mismanagement and improprieties under Blagojevich, and experts on the powers of a legislative committee the governor defied.

But Ellis said he may cut testimony from lawmakers describing the findings of the House investigation and testifying on the damage the Blagojevich scandal has done to the state.

Republicans objected, saying they wanted to hear from every possible witness, even if they're just summarizing the conclusions of the Illinois House impeachment probe.

Again, you need to go 5 paragraphs deep before you find a party affiliation, and again, it’s Republicans, not the focus of the story.

Now let’s look over this AP story, and see if you notice any difference.

Fla. House speaker quits over college job scandal
By BILL KACZOR Associated Press Writer

Trouble started for one of Florida's most powerful state officials the day he took his post. Now, just over two months into his tenure, GOP Speaker Ray Sansom has stepped down.

Sansom on Monday gave up his position as Republican leader, which entitles him to serve as speaker, while the House GOP was meeting to consider his ouster. The meeting was called amid investigations into whether he'd improperly accepted a job from a state college.

The focus of the story is identified as a Republican 3 times in the first two paragraphs. A total of 3 party mentions in 4 sentences. The only surprising thing is they omitted “Republican” from the headline.

Seriously, do you think this is a mere coincidence? Even though it happens time and time again? Even though every single example you find is the same way?

Really? Coincidence, and not a pattern? Anyone want to stick with that?