Bias ought to be up front.

Bias ought to be up front.

White Rock, B.C. - Tuesday, September 3, 2002 By: Rudy Fernandes

personal
biases
There should be a law that columnists warn readers of personal biases and/or prejudices. They should state these before beginning scathing opinion of persons or subjects.

scorched
earth
As an example Mr. Lorne Gunter, while he did declare where he stood in his column regarding the unite-the-right movement, writing

"I've never been a huge fan of the unite-the-right movement, preferring hostile take-over to merger, scorched earth to joint tenancy. So it's not the Tories' rejection of the concept that's galling. Rather its their smug rejection of the obvious."

in the Edmonton Journal, Aug.25 , it was almost at the end of his opinion piece. The impression prior to this statement being that of objectively stating facts.

Alliance
up 14%
to 18%
Without citing any particular pollster, Mr. Gunter wrote

" Since Harper took over in March, the Alliance has risen from 14 per cent to 18 per cent. Hardly a juggernaut. But the Tories have dropped from 16 per cent to 15. And ... the Alliance has resurged 11 points, while the Tories have dropped four."

PCs 25%
Alliance 23%
in
Alberta
A recent poll conducted by Ekos Research Associates that would have provided balance was ignored:

"The Conservatives came second (to the Liberals) at 14.7%...and the Alliance trailed at 10.5%. In Alberta (Alliance's home province), the Tories were at 25% and the Alliance at 23%."

So much for the reliability of columnists who do not cite sources.

misleading
Columnists' biases ought to be stated early on if they lack balance. Anything less must be considered as willfully misleading the casual reader.

Rudy J. Fernandes

References:

"Tories stand their ground -- but may disappear" Lorne Gunter, Edmonton Journal

"Poll puts Liberals and Martin on top" A CBC News/Toronto Star/La Presse poll conducted by EKOS Research Associates
http://cbc.ca/news/national/news/chretien/ekos_poll020826.html

Quotes from other material by Lorne Gunter



Bias ought to be up front.

White Rock, B.C. - Tuesday, September 3, 2002 By: Rudy Fernandes

personal biases	There should be a law that columnists warn readers of personal biases and/or prejudices. They should state these before beginning scathing opinion of persons or subjects.

scorched earth	As an example Mr. Lorne Gunter, while he did declare where he stood in his column regarding the unite-the-right movement, writing
	`"I've never been a huge fan of the unite-the-right movement, preferring hostile take-over to merger, scorched earth to joint tenancy. So it's not the Tories' rejection of the concept that's galling. Rather its their smug rejection of the obvious."`
	in the Edmonton Journal, Aug.25 , it was almost at the end of his opinion piece. The impression prior to this statement being that of objectively stating facts.

Alliance up 14% to 18%	Without citing any particular pollster, Mr. Gunter wrote
Alliance up 14% to 18%	`" Since Harper took over in March, the Alliance has risen from 14 per cent to 18 per cent. Hardly a juggernaut. But the Tories have dropped from 16 per cent to 15. And ... the Alliance has resurged 11 points, while the Tories have dropped four."`

PCs 25% Alliance 23% in Alberta	A recent poll conducted by Ekos Research Associates that would have provided balance was ignored:
	`"The Conservatives came second (to the Liberals) at 14.7%...and the Alliance trailed at 10.5%. In Alberta (Alliance's home province), the Tories were at 25% and the Alliance at 23%."`
	So much for the reliability of columnists who do not cite sources.

misleading	Columnists' biases ought to be stated early on if they lack balance. Anything less must be considered as willfully misleading the casual reader.

	Rudy J. Fernandes

References:
	"Tories stand their ground -- but may disappear" Lorne Gunter, Edmonton Journal

	"*Poll puts Liberals and Martin on top*" A CBC News/Toronto Star/La Presse poll conducted by EKOS Research Associates http://cbc.ca/news/national/news/chretien/ekos_poll020826.html

	Quotes from other material by Lorne Gunter