I watch the PBS news pretty regularly. I enjoy watching McLaughlin occasionally (he's so obnoxious I love him!), sometimes I listen to Limbaugh and on Sundays I flip between the AM network news shows (I love Tim, hate Sam - love George Will and think Steffy smirks too much).

Jim Lehrer, may well have 'left' leanings (he's a personal friend of Gore) but he is more successful then most reporters at presenting an unbiased approach to news. The program is far more left leading when he is absent. Mark Sheilds is one of PBS's best opinion people, and a strong leftie - and Gigot was a perfect foil for him; equally eloquent and strongly middle-of-the-road conservative. The News Hour really lost big when Paul moved on to the Editor's role at the Journal.

The News Hour is the only regular TV news show I can watch - I recognize its leanings, but they work hard to provide balance. They do, as John Hardly says above, typically assume one side of the arguement and start most interviews by asking the spokesperson from the opposite side to defend their position. This is typical news industry strategy.

It is true that most journalists go into the field because they wish to have a positive influence in the world. They have a vision of how the world should behave and they seek out ways to prove their point/s. It is equally true that the majority of American news media are self described 'liberals' (a recent poll showed that 80% said they typically voted for liberal Democrats). I believe that some try openly to push their beliefs rather then news, but I believe we have a tradition of news that attempts to be unbiased. Tim Russert is a god example of a journalist who is pretty successful at being unbiased - though he is a personally strongly attached to one side.

Limbaugh, of course makes no attempt to be unbiased. He is an entertainer who knows what the conservatives in America want to hear, and he is very very good at saying it. I am not always convinced he is genuine.

I am sorry for his loss, and wish him the best.