Even GOP doesn't grasp media bias

On the heels of Ted Cruz calling out the moderators in the third GOP debate, the chairman of the Republican National Committee promised that CNBC would not be allowed to muddle a GOP debate ever again. If only overcoming the effects of uninformative media coverage were that easy.

The media's most pervasive bias is one which favors conflict, sensationalism and a short attention span. It helps media outlets to maximize TV ratings and web traffic.

Unfortunately, the presidential candidates reinforce this problem. They spend their debate time on zippy one-liners and evasive answers leading into rehearsed - and at times, insultingly simplified - stump speeches. These are branding techniques. They help the candidates to maximize their own "ratings" in the polls. Of course, all of this comes at the cost of having substantive debates that inform voters about the issues.

To the extent Ted Cruz called for less of a "cagematch" and more substance in the debate, he should be commended. This is exactly what the public needs.

But nevermind, because Cruz and the GOP have already gutted that noble cause. Their continuing diatribe against the "mainstream media," including accusing the moderators of ideological prejudice and "bad faith" questioning, is not informative. Instead, it is combative and sensationalist. It's a way to get the old fan base excited with a naked appeal to ideological identity - "We're all frustrated with the garbage served up by these flakey know-it-alls in the liberal media, right?" - without requiring too much thinking. This is just more of what the politicians and the media thrive on while failing to inform voters with a reasonable degree of depth about the issues at stake.

William Schubert

Naperville