Rodney

While I did not intend to attack the press itself, I can unfortunately confirm the experiences related by Ustwo and BigBen.

Because people in public life lie routinely, many reporters and editors don't see stories in terms of truth or falsehood anymore -- they see it in terms of angles: your angle on it, his angle on it, and all are equal... so instead of trying to research the truth -- takes too long -- they simply go with the "angle" that makes the best copy and sells the most papers -- or, in some cases, is least likely to offend the advertisers.

Whether it's actually true or not is irrevelant, as long as the reporter can get a source to utter the words that he needs to make his or her case. Bill O'Reilly, though not really a journalist, is a fine example of manipulative journalistic inquiry -- nearly every question is designed to lead the interviewee to reach the conclusion that O'Reilly wants him to reach.

There are many exceptions. But at the local level, this is what you're very likely to get.