When what was said was not what was reported
Mark Glaser's "Feeling Misquoted? Weblogs, Transcripts Let the Reader Decide" has some really good explanations about quotes that are shortened, compressed, and flat-out wrong.
But my favorite quote in his article was from "Weblogger Pejman Yousefzadeh, an attorney in Orange County, CA."
It's not a liberal or conservative bias -- the biggest media bias is in favor of conflict. Journalists have to create a story with some drama. They have to sell papers.
Next time you wonder what's wrong with the world as you're reading the paper, think about that. I agree with Mr. Yousefzadeh wholeheartedly.
Update 2003-06-06 12:22:07-0700
Just found this quote in Dana Blankenhor's A-Clue.com newsletter.
News reporters often highlight contention or loss. It makes better copy.
So an attorney and a journalist agree on it.