To the editor:

Despite exposure of the claim’s fallacy, many Americans continue to believe that today’s media reflect a liberal bias. Such belief ignores several obvious facts.

First, and most basic, practically all of today’s general-consumption media are commercial enterprises. They’re big businesses, stalwart supporters and ardent defenders of our capitalistic economic system. Naturally, therefore, they have a political bias that favors the rich. For instance, when was the last time the average citizen of this nation encountered a socialist medium of any kind?

The media’s capitalistic ideology explains why most newspapers have for many years supported Republican candidates for public office and causes dear to conservatives. During the 2000 campaign, for example, U.S. companies owning media outlets made most of their political contributions to the GOP.

Moreover, conservative spokespersons outnumber liberals on today’s public affairs programs on television – even those on PBS. Then there’s talk radio! No comment needed.

It is true, of course, that some of the nation’s “bigfoot” press give liberals more than their due upon occasion. However, those newspapers are the exception – despite their being highly visible – to the generally conservative orientation of today’s media.

John De Mott,

Lawrence