Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News

Former CBS reporter Bernard Goldberg's BIAS became politicized even before it was out on the market. And it's a shame. This is a WONDERFUL, important, thought-provoking book and a GREAT READ...no matter WHAT your political stance is. Before this book was even in the general public's hands conservative talk-show hosts glorified it while some liberals (and news figures) badmouthed or down played it. But the bottom line is: Goldberg is a gifted writer who writes with incredible bluntness and supports most allegations with specific names, facts and quotations. Goldberg, the modern media's most high-profile whistleblower, became a non-person and was marginalized until he left CBS due to his sin: he wrote a blunt and thoughtful piece in the Wall Street Journal questioning the objectivity of CBS Evening News reporter Eric Engberg's Reality Check segment in which Engberg ridiculed presidential candidate Steve Forbe's flat-tax idea's "Number One Wackiest Flat Tax Promise." There are two levels to this book. One, woven throughout, is the story of how due to his sin the CBS hierarchy, particularly his one-time friend Dan Rather, shunned him, kept him off the air, and was furious at him. He says one CBS bigwig warned him that the corporation would use "all the big guns in its arsenal against him" if he became too sympathetic. Rather was quoted as suggesting Goldberg, who was NOT a Republican, was trying to intimidate him and, Goldberg alleges, took a "take-no-prisoners" behind-the-scenes stance to undermine him. Even media types outside CBS were not happy with him leading him to conclude that media "elites", which want to report on everyone, don't want anyone to report on them. The other level is more important: he gives specifics examples (names, quotes, specific stories) of deeply ingrained media bias. Some key ones:--A CBS reporter in a conference call labelling former presidential candidate Gary Bauer "that little nut from the Christian Group." And no editors listening objected.--How a CBS producer didn't want images of black prisoners on a chain gang story since it might make viewers think many prisoners were black (which they were)...and similar problems on showing black looters in the Virgin Islands.--How news producers generally don't like to feature blacks in news stories since it means lower ratings.--How homeless activists bloated statistics and downplayed the role of the mentally ill, alcoholic and drug-users among that population. How the homeless story is heavily reported when Republicans are in power, then suddenly dropped once a Demcrat takes office. He makes a persuasive case.--How the news media went along with early contentions by AIDS activists that the horrorific disease put the entire heterosexual population at risk versus specific segments (homosexuals, drug users and those that have sex with them).--How the word "controversial" often means the reporter/show does not agree with the person or issue to which it refers.--How conservatives are labelled as such but liberals aren't. This book has a wealth of SPECIFIC, FACTUAL information...all peppered with Goldberg's blunt reporting, hilarious zingers (too many to count here!), and searing sarcasm. This should be required reading for anyone who is in or thinking about going into journalism. Ironically, the book's basic set-up is its FLAW. By being so blunt and taking on the issue head-on Goldberg runs the risk (as his appearances on talk shows prove) of being defined by others as being a disgruntled employee and conservative ideologue. He is truly NEITHER: due to his "crime" he ran into a buzz saw of office politics, sometimes subtle corporate retaliation, blatant efforts to discredit him and his motives -- and is clearly angry. But his ALLEGATIONS here are BACKED UP with SPECIFICS. If nothing else, Goldberg shows how news organizations operate from a ground-level assumption -- a conventional political wisdom. ALL news outlets do (take it from a former reporter, like me): CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN and Fox. In staking out his ground here, Goldberg does too. But unlike others Goldberg's message is "let's THINK about this and let's do SOMETHING to apply the same rules to everyone and be MORE objective." For that he became personna non grata in circles he criticizes, a hero to those who hate those circles -- but his message is a solid one and delivered with all the writing skill of a topflight pro.

How will the world, the left, the right and even the so-called, but now lost..."true center," respond and react to Bernard Goldberg's book "Bias"?"As with all things," as Mr. Spock would say, "each according to his or her own talents and gifts," or something to that effectI ordered "Bias" at the same time that I ordered John Adams, The No Spin Zone, The Final days and a few other books. When they arrive I place them neatly in order on my shelf and promise that I will get to them promptly. However as my pile of completed books' increases, so does unfortunately, the pile yet to be opened.For personal and obvious reasons, I moved "Bias" up on my list however and after a healthy dose of Bill O'Reilly, I dove into it. I admit that I did so from a conservative perspective. I make no bones about it, I am right of center, at least the real center not Dan Rathers.I had long ago decided that the media was biased and left leaning, Mr. Goldberg has vendicated myself and millions of others. It was one of those just under the surface frustrations that millions of Americans feel, know and are disgusted about. However we never had the forum or the ability to prove or spread the word to others. Well, Mr. Goldberg has beautifully done so with intelligence, reason, flair, insight and simply truth. I could hear the collective sigh of relief from 100 million Americans to find, that someone has express in print what they have known for decades. Mr. Goldberg should be the next Time Magazine man of the year! Not a snowballs change because Time is just as left leaning as Dan Rather but it would be a great edition to collect.I always looked at myself as leaning mostly right but knew I had a moderate eye towards most things. That comes form believing the political spectrum is not a line but a circle, go to far in either direction and you become the other side. I had that inner eye of understanding, compassion and compromise, but that has all changed now in regards to the media. I feel violated by this welcome truth and it will be hard to watch or trust these charlatans ever again in the TV newsrooms, the major magazines and the intertainment industry who are all involved in this deceiption.I used to believe that I was in the middle and I may actually be there with millions and millions of other Americans. However Dan Rather always made our skin crawl, as did the other major anchormen and anchorwomen on CBS, NBS, ABC and a few other programs. Something did not feel right. We knew we were being pulled in a direction we did not want to go, but it was being secretly and subtly done.We could sometimes find solace in CSPAN and CNN but were still feeling like outsiders looking into someone else manipulative game.Then came FOX News, fair and balanced reporting, hard questions, no spin zones and people who would not bow down and kiss the feet of politicians, special interest icons nor the high powered, self-righteous egotistical hypocrites of organizations who were accustomed to having their every word obsorbed as gospel. It was grand to see them squirm. Fox has consequently become the most watched outlet in America, simply because we see both sides laid open for inspection where we can decide. No blatant or subtle left leaning manipulation by "The Dan, The Tom, or the Peter" anymore. Thank God.As I said I thought I was in the middle, the center, the moderate position before, but after this new revelation and enlightening insight by Mr. Goldberg I realize that Dan Rather's middle is not, in the middle at all. He is, along with his cohorts falsely portraying the radical left as the middle, which pushes the normal compassionate and reasonable right way over into the far extreme right in his opinion, on the irrational progressive left wing politico-meter and thus deviously creates that vast right conspiracy. Filled with people like you and me who are just normal everyday American citizens.An incredible tactic by Dan Rather and gang, but as Mr. Goldberg says, unprofessional, disgraceful and despicable journalism. Thus making those radical fanatics who sit in the center in his world politically correct and makes the real world, which holds most Average Americans wrong.Mr. Golderg has wiped away the clouds of doubt that Dan Rather and his cronies have for decades placed between the truth and their dirtied character, and he has pulled aside the sable curtain of lies to expose the soft vulnerable biased underbellies of the major TV networks.It is all summed up in one sentence in this book. "The sophisticated media elite's don't categorize their beliefs as liberal but as simply the correct way to look at things. They think they're middle of the road-raging moderates-while everyone else (the people who live in the red states that Gerorge W. Bush carried) is on the fringe. It is scary to think that so many important people who bring America the news can be so delusional."America has had an intuition about this for nearly forty years, but never had the facts, the information or the connections to bring it to the surface. I always called it the great liberal hypocrisy in my weekly columns and the arrogance of self-rightious profession of omnipotence by the far left.Mr. Goldberg has done a masterful job of exposing the truth that we have all known and is a hero to many millions of Americans. I hope he has sent a wake up call to many, many on the left to look into the mirror and finally say maybe "we are the guilty ones." Self examination as they have always told us, is good for the soul, maybe they should take their own advise. Great job Mr. Goldberg, "the truth will set you free."Perhaps the most refreshing, interesting and revealing book I will ever read. Finally, someone tells the truth about the media and it's utter disregard for truth, professionalism, honor and balanced reporting.

This is the book that will change what us millennial have been taught and learnt to accept. Bernard Goldberg talks about several topics that are extremely eye opening. It pulls you off this one way of thinking and makes you look and question everything that the news puts out. He discusses AIDS/HIV and the complexity of the subject , targeting men is another extremely important chapter talking about how white straight males are targeted nowadays and treated inferior that life is easy for them. That how there is this hate and backlash that they are what's wrong with society . We try to teach them in a way that is not productive or stimulates their brains with implementing a school system that deters young males from flourishing. I am a female and see that there are a lot of things wrong with how millennial's and gen Z's will think and are thinking. It is very very one sided this book made me pull off that path and be more objective and look for the other side of things. Whenever I read a news report I look into the opposite view just to see the whole perspective. 150%/100% this book is amazingggg!!!!!

Excellent book that has given me a better appreciation for, and understanding of, the media.Goldberg makes his case a chapter at a time.I think Goldberg is more credible because his own views are to the left of center.It is a quick read but at the same time provides food for thought.