Richard Reeves

In the following viewpoint, Richard Reeves responds to the common charge that the news media have a liberal bias. He contends that while journalists tend to be culturally liberal, most are relatively conservative politically and have a professional interest in maintaining objectivity. Moreover, he maintains, the views of conservatives receive extensive coverage in the mainstream media. Reeves, a former regents professor of political science at UCLA, is a syndicated columnist and former chief political correspondent for the New York Times. His many books include Do the Media Govern: Politicians, Voters, and Reporters in America, coedited with Shanto Iyengar.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to the author, what common characteristics are shared by the “royalty of journalism”?
2. According to Reeves, how did William E. Simon help get conservative ideas...