James | 
01 30th, 2009| 
At least, I don’t until well into the year. Since the election season is over, I’ve decided to use the next two months before the 2010 mid-terms begin reading alternative view points. Most people don’t believe me, but I like to think of myself as fairly moderate. So, to make sure that my news-reading remains balanced, I’m giving a list of where I get my political news.
Why I like it: Fark is one of the most diverse web communities out there. The site is moderated very well and the nifty political thermometers help gage the political leanings certain articles. Most of the comments are well reasoned and with a few exceptions, the dialog is civil and there are enough people posting and critiquing the comments and articles that factual inaccuracies, exaggerations, and logical fallacies are kept to a minimum.
Is it balanced? Yes. Just look at the meters!
Why I like it: In two words, Dan Savage. There are few issues where I will only take one side, and chief among them is same-sex marriage. His column (and Lovecast) are phenomenal, too. Additionally, I would really like to live in STL.
Is it balanced? No. But think of it as a bottomless well of Dan Savage.
Why I like it: Recently, they decided to release all of their archives for free on their site. That I like. The literature and articles are some of the best I’ve ever read and as far as magazines go, I can’t think of one that presents balanced articles. The January/February 2009 edition is an exception though, I think.
Is it balanced? Between Andrew Sullivan, Marc Ambinder, and Ta-Nehisi Coates, I’ll have to say, “Yes.”
Why I like it: I will be the first one to tell you there is no such thing as objectivity in reporting. PRC is just about as objective as it gets. I also use its News IQ quiz to measure my self-worth. If I don’t score a 10/10, I’m pretty disappointed.
Is it balanced: My other “balanced” news sources are balanced in that they present multiple points of view with equally. This source is mostly objective.
5. Charleston City Paper (The Southern Avenger/Jack Hunter)
Why I like it: Hunter is a local institution in my home town, Charleston, SC. He is a classical conservative whose opinions are well-reasoned. I often disagree with him, which is one of the reasons I like him so much. There are few local columnists whose writing quality ever compare to the Avenger’s. His columns frequently depict local situations with international implications. I used to listen to his spot on The Critic on 96 Wave.
Is it balanced? The Southern Avenger is certainly conservative, but I will keep him in this list to balance out Dan Savage.
6. National Public Radio – Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Market Place
Why I like it: I live in broadcast range of three NPR affiliate stations–between them there is usually something interesting on. An NPR affiliate station is an integral part of its community, providing an outlet for information free of the profit-motive. They bring emerging talent to their listening areas. I spend two hours of my work day in the car, so it’s nice to get the variety that All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Marketplace have to offer.
Is it balanced? This is a point of contention. Since, as an NPR liberal, my credibility here is shot, I’ll use science. Quarterly Journal of Economics finds that on a scale of 50-100: 50 being purely centrist and 100 being most liberal, NPR scores about 66. It’s ranked 12th out of 20 other news outlets, which all average out to about 62. So NPR is left of center, but not much so than most media outlets. Also, it’s worth noting that in the most recent election cycle, NPR has more stories about McCain than Obama. However, according to Pew, a higher percentage of McCain’s stories were negative by a margin of almost 2:1…but come on, everyone in the media had a field day with Palin.
…There are many more sources that I will frequently post here or on my Twitter feed.
