The success of a site like Media Whores Online should be seen in the broader context of journalistic (and meta-journalistic) discussions in America today. With books like Bernard Goldberg's "Bias" atop the bestseller list, and shows like the highly partisan "O'Reilly Factor" posing as "spin-free" and objective, it's probably not such a bad thing that the Democratic side get in its licks.

But the entire journalistic culture that has produced such an approach -- and it's more common on the right than on the left -- deserves criticism. Rather than arguing over the merits of issues, pundits seem more interested in impugning the motives of their opponents. And rather than proudly, and openly, announcing their political views, folks like O'Reilly and the authors of Media Whores Online insist absurdly on their own nonpartisan objectivity.

If we are going to have partisan bickering dominate our journalism, let's at least be honest about it.

-- Ben Alpers

Mediawhoresonline.com is the first thing I read every morning. It's one of only a few places I trust for news and commentary.

-- C.L. Pettit

Ahhh, thank you, thank you for your story about my favorite Web sites. It was worth my $30 membership just to read about MWO. It cracked me up to read the Washington journalists (aka media whores), who spin themselves into thinking they are not biased, are all abuzz trying to figure out who owns the site.

-- Terri Takahashi

The wing nuts started this shit storm, the left ought to counter accordingly. Then we all should realize just how small the planet's become and start conducting our business with more integrity all the way around.

-- Sherrie Tournour

You might like to know that [MWO editors] censor their message board on that site. Yup! Real censorship, thought control and member purges. Ask a question like, "Isn't it telling that we Liberals finally champion the rights of Black voters when the loss of their rights in Florida helped us loose an election AND not before?" OUT you go, fast and permanent!

MWO is a classic liberal waste of time. Don't get me wrong, liberalism has an enormous amount to offer, it is MWO that does not. They started out with a mission and ended up in missionary position just like the whores they decry. Try the sight out. But put on your lockstep boots and spout the "New Liberal" line or out you go!

The former Liberal Rich on MWO,

-- Dr. Richard Langford

MWO is not a partisan site that requires a skewed liberal position, it simply demands that journalists behave like journalists and research their facts rather than slather their opinions. Next time, I suggest hire a journalist. You have way too many whores expressing ridiculous right-wing opinions on Salon.com to be taken seriously.

-- Jeanette Novakovich

Sometimes Media Whores Online goes too far. But not as often as, say, Fox News or Ari Fleischer.

As a frequent reader and sometime contributor (with my e-mail address posted), I have called them on some of their more rabid attacks. More frequently, I have congratulated them on posting real stories that the mainstream press got completely bass ackward, and have thanked them for posting e-mail addresses. It's kind of cool getting e-mail from Roger Ailes or Howard Kurtz. It's in their favor that they read and respond to criticism.

What I've found, over several decades of being the target from the left and right, is that while the left might be rude on occasion, the right is scatological and insulting as the default mode. After years of listening to hate radio, people's filters just don't hear the rabid hate-mongering from conservatives and are ultra-sensitive to anything impolite from the liberals.

Sure, I'd prefer a bit more Righteous Indignation and a bit less Sinking To Their Level. But you take what you can get, and if Salon can publish David Horowitz, Media Whores Online can try to set the record straight.

-- David E. Romm

Whoever they are at Media Whores Online, their message is right on and more power to them. I just returned from a month in London, where the BBC interviews with various top British politicians, including Tony Blair, were long, tough and on an adult level. They hold politicians accountable in a way that is depressingly unimaginable here.

Since the U.S. media has gone over to the bottom line mentality, no one is willing to take any risk, so all news coverage becomes safe. And don't look for anything to change as long as huge profits are being made from pharmaceuticals and campaign advertising.

-- John Horn

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