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Friday, February 13, 2009

Warning: may contain hidden bias

A brief lesson in how media bias works. As Orwell taught us so well, it's not about saying things, it's about taking great care about what not to say.

Today's New York Times tells us the story of "A Birth Control Pill That Promised Too Much." Or rather the Times tells us part of the story. There's something missing.

...

Regulators say the ads overstated the drug’s ability to improve women’s moods and clear up acne, while playing down its potential health risks.

Fasten your attention on those last two words: "health risks." It isn't often that a major American media outlet writes about the health risks of contraceptives,...Go ahead; read the entire Times article if you like. You won't find another mention of "health risks" in the entire piece.

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