Patch's Political Bias Rears It's Ugly Head...Again

Patch's political agenda was made clear once again with an article just posted by Editor Emily Stone. It is on Evanston Patch and appears under the big, bold headline: "Evanston Donors Favor Obama in a Landslide". I seem to have grown into the roll of smacking Patch upside the head when they veer from good journalism. I don't go looking for these things, but I cannot ignore them when I see them. So, I just posted this comment on the Evanston Patch article...I think you will find it spot on. (Eric Lieberman, www.liebermanforillinois.com)

Here is what I wrote:

Once again, Emily, you need to tell the whole story! The data on which your article was based on is stale by about 5 months. It is based on the financial reports filed in the middle of the summer. If your readers click here ( http://tinyurl.com/8ukdjgr ) they will see the long list of local contributors to Romney. The names and positions are just as "impressive" as the names you list.

Plus, it is no coincidence that you decided to run this now...since this data has been around for so long. Your timing has EVERYTHING to do with The President's "abysmal" performance in the Wednesday's debate. By the way, "abysmal" is not my characterization, it was spoken by an Obama supporter on CNN last night.

Moreover, what would be more interesting and helpful to readers would have been providing some insight into how Romney's contributions have increased since the debate. You provided yesterday's news. As the President said: "This is not about looking backward, we need to look forward".

Emily, drag out your Journalism 101 book and refresh you memory regarding the essence and meaning of public reporting. When I was a reporter in Chicago for a truly neutral news source, reporting like yours, incendiary and biased, would not have gotten past the editors' desk.

Eric Lieberman 

Candidate for State Rep, 18th District (Evanston, Wilmetter, Winnetka, Kenilworth)
www.liebermanforillinois.com