Boy, they're sure defensive about that whole "Gore/internet" shtick...
I think you're confusing the editorials in these outlets with actual news. They're not. Those are people's opinions. And I read about the murder you're talking about (I'm assuming you mean Jesse Dirkhising) in the Washington Post, so I have NO idea what you're going on about in regards to THAT...
Dirkhising's case became a cause celebre with conservative pundits when it was first reported over 3 years ago. The pundits cried and moaned about how it didn't get as much coverage of the Matthew Shepard murder, which is a little confusing since the reasoning behind the reporting of the two cases are clearly very different.
Matthew Shepard was killed because he was gay, plain and simple. Dirkhising was killed because of two sick, twisted individuals who decided to end his life, but they didn't have an "agenda", nor is there any evidence whatsoever they they chose Jason based on who he was or what his sexual orientation was.
Like it or not, the two ARE very different. Unfortunately, we DO live in a world screwed up enough where a murder like Dirkhising's IS "just another murder." It's not right, and it's heartless, but I'm sorry, that's how it works. The men that killed him likely would have killed any little boy they would have been able to grab, whereas Shepard's killers made the very clear and concious decision to kill HIM because of who he was and what he was.
There IS a difference between a "regular" murder and a hate crime. Shepard was murdered because he was gay. Dirkhising was killed because he was there.
And if we're talking biases, where are the conservatives up in arms over, say, the coverage that something like the Columbine shooting gets, but then the hundreds (Maybe even thousands) of shootings, stabbings, rapes and acts of violence that occur in under-funded, inner city, "ghetto" schools each and every year that are virtually ignored by even local media outlets? Unfortunately, it looks like it's really only "ignored" if it's a story about "us" and not "them."
Face facts: both sides don't cover everything. The idea that Dirkhising's killing was "underplayed" because his killers were gay is ludicrious. People aren't living in a fantasy world where they think gay murderers don't exist. If that was the case, why did Andrew Cunanan get SO much overwhleming press as the very "GAY killer of Versace?"
The basic accusation levelled at the "liberal media" is one that is really applicable to ALL media outlets...and that is, quite simply, "go with the story that sells." Look at Fox News and try and tell me THEY don't try and get you to watch "the SHOCKING news story undercover revelation in-depth exclusive that might just keep YOU and your FAMILY from being KILLED!!!" just as much as the "other guys."
There IS a very obvious "sensational" slant. Media outlets go with what they think will sell the more papers/advertising/draw in the most viewers, and for better or for worse, the most sensational, "gory", weird and attention-grabbing stories tend to be those that the right loves to skewer as "liberal". Shepard's case was a sensationalistic one. Dirkhising's, unfortunately, in this jaded day and age, really was not.
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This message was edited by TheMojoPin on 3-14-03 @ 5:01 PM