(Liberal) Paper Of Record?
Of course it is.That was Daniel Okrent's response to the question of whether the NY Times is a liberal newspaper.
Some people are complaining that Okrent's 'admission' doesn't go far enough and that it skirts some bigger issues. But there's no good way for Okrent to do what the complainers are asking him to do. He can't simply come in and 'blow up' the entire culture and reputation at the Times in one grand column.
My feeling is that Okrent realizes the seriousness of the institutional problems (biases) at the Times, and is doing his best to bring them to light without pointing fingers or laying blame. He also appears to be taking baby steps in the areas of coverage he discusses - perhaps to give those he hasn't specifically addressed the opportunity to make adjustments in their coverage by appying his statements to date to their areas of responsibility.
The Technorati cosmos for this article may end up being fun.
# | July 25, 2004