William Powers explains in
today's National Journal one reason the press is tougher on Democrats than Republicans:
Journalists are more aggressive under Democratic rule. This doesn't jibe with the stereotype of reporters as liberals, but it's the stereotype that winds up undermining itself. When Democrats are in power, there's a huge incentive for reporters not to appear too sympathetic and thereby confirm the old liberal-bias charge. Thus, despite the friendly coverage we're seeing in this honeymoon period, the Democratic restoration will eventually produce tougher coverage than we saw of the GOP Congress, as media outlets strive to prove that they aren't soft on the Democrats.
So what can we do about it? They say that self-awareness is the first step toward change. Is there some way to make the mainstream press aware of their bias?
Powers sites some other reasons the tone of the press will change under Democratic control:
- Republicans are more controlled legislators, while Democrats are "legislative beasts."
- Democrats are more likely to participate in infighting.
- Democrats are less sure of themselves; the Hamlets of politics.
- "Democrats are always on the edge of comedy. There's a madcap, Marx Brothers quality to this party."
Powers sums it up:
Obviously, a divided government is full of the tensions that produce headlines. But a Democratic Congress is also anthropologically different from a Republican Congress -- messier, louder, looser-lipped, more colorful, newsier, and, for the media class's purposes, more fun: