Washington Post columnist E. J. Dionne Jr. has concluded that the media are increasingly conservative. "A couple of weeks back," said Dionne, "Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle lashed out at radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. He said Limbaugh's attacks were so ‘shrill’ that ‘the threats against those of us in public life go up dramatically, against us and against our families." Dionne commented, "Note the response of the so-called liberal media. Rather than join an outcry against Limbaugh, the establishment commentary was mostly aimed against Daschle and picked up the conservative cry that he was ‘whining.’ Limbaugh was invited for lengthy and respectful interviews on CNN's ‘Reliable Sources’ and Tim Russert's show on CNBC."

That hardly proves that the media have become conservative. Daschle’s charge that Limbaugh was inciting threats was not backed up by any evidence. Limbaugh’s response to such a reckless charge was newsworthy. But former Vice President Al Gore also made some curious charges. He accused The Washington Times, Fox News, Limbaugh and talk radio in general, of taking their cues from the Republican National Committee. Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation commented, "That is quite laughable…If anything, a case might be made that the RNC gets some of its ideas from Limbaugh and The Washington Times. "

While Limbaugh has a large audience, he provides mostly opinion and entertainment. News is still the province of the liberal-dominated evening news programs of CBS, NBC and ABC. While their share of television sets in use at that hour has dramatically declined from an average of 75 percent 30 years ago, to 44 percent today, they still command a huge audience. Taken together, they attract some 30 million viewers a night. No other news medium approaches that.

By contrast, Fox News drew an average of 666,000 total viewers during the first three months of 2002. That was up 116 percent from the same period in 2001, but it is still far below the reach of the evening news programs.

E.J. Dionne of the Post insists that Fox News has become known for "unapologetic conservatism." He is apparently referring to Bill O’Reilly, who attracts about 2.1 million viewers a night. But O’Reilly rejects the label of "conservative" and takes liberal stands on issues such as global warming, homosexuality and the death penalty. Fox News Channel host Greta Van Susteren was known as a liberal when she was on CNN. Fox correspondent Geraldo Rivera is another liberal.

Dionne insisted that traditional news sources, such as the "old broadcast networks," are "under constant pressure to avoid even the pale hint of liberalism." But that pressure has little effect. With the publication of "Bias" by former CBS Newsman Bernard Goldberg, a liberal bias at this network can no longer be denied. But Dan Rather still doesn’t believe it. Goldberg said that "Any kind of serious disagreement, especially about liberal bias [at the network], was seen as treason." Goldberg was a truth teller, not a traitor. He left CBS News.

Reed Irvine can be reached at ri@aim.org