Labels

The N&O is just as guilty as the MSM of using labels to inject bias into stories. On B1 today the writer refers to "a local conservative Christian group." They were referring to Called2Action, which is clearly a faith-based group, though some of their stands are not necessarily conservative. The group may not even mind the label as many conservative groups like the term.

But if the writers of the N&O have the wisdom and discretion to label a group conservative, then fairness dictates that liberal groups would be likewise labeled. However, a mention of Lillian's List (on page 5B), a liberal group that raises money to elect liberal women, contained no label. In a different stort, the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network also received no label from the paper.

Maybe the writers are just too lazy to do the background needed to find out if a group is "liberal." But I suspect they approach stories trying to make a point, not report, and labeling helps them make their political point.