McClatchy picks up on Media Matters study

McClatchy has an article about the recent Media Matters report detailing how conservatives dominate the Sunday morning talk shows. And it's all well and good until you get to an "expert" they interviewed.

Stephen Battaglio, a TV Guide senior correspondent who follows the television news industry, said it's difficult to quantify political bias by counting the party affiliations of the talk show guests.

"I'm a big fan of the Sunday morning discussion programs," he said. "I think they're the only news programs worth watching, to be quite honest. In terms of political discussion, they're by far the best places to go."

Under the Media Matters study's approach, Battaglio said, Sen. Chuck Hagel - who appeared six times on "This Week" in 2005 and 2006 - would indicate a conservative bias, even though he's an outspoken critic of the Iraq war.

"It's tricky to start trying to measure bias by just looking at party affiliation," Battaglio said. "I think the Sunday news shows are about as down the middle as they can be. They're equally tough on both sides, I would say."

Since when is a correspondent from freaking TV Guide qualified to comment on politics? The example of Hagel is a case in point. He's honest about the war, which everyone can respect, but he is most definitely a conservative.

Don't get me wrong, McClatchy does great work. But it seemed odd to be quoting a television industry reporter rather than a political reporter or expert when it comes to defining the relative positions of politicians. Like asking a crime reporter to comment on the Paris fashion show. They may have an opinion, but that doesn't mean it's worth anything.

But if they get to comment on politics, I get to comment on TV. Here's my comment: it sucks and there is nothing on I can watch with my kids, so I am buying DVD's of shows from the distant past.

There are no commercials, and Gilligan never gets off the island, let alone eats worms in an attempt to stay on the island.