I had a bizarre Facebook conversation with a guy today, regarding NY Times bias, which he insisted didn't exist.

Him: You have to understand, reality is actually center-left, so that's not necessarily a bias like you think it is.

Me: I am not talking about which party "reality" favors. I just want the facts. I want the news to report the facts, whether they favor the left or right. Anything else is a bias. The NY Times is left-biased because they omit certain information which makes Democrats look bad, and they press hard on any story or details which make Republicans look bad.

Him: It's not a bias if it's the truth. The truth just happens to favor the left more.

Me: That's not what I'm arguing. Again, whichever side the facts favor has nothing to do with bias. I don't think the Times is biased because the "facts" they report favor the left. I say they are biased because they knowingly skew their reporting to only cover facts they want to reveal, with a political motivation in choosing them. If you omit facts which make a party look bad, and you're doing it out of the desire to make your own side look good, you're showing a bias.

Him: You just can't handle that reporting which makes your side look bad is more prevalent because your side frequently deserves it.

Me: ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME??? I'm talking about when they OMIT or EXAGGERATE facts, in order to push the narrative a certain way. I'm not talking about whether they are covering something which makes Republicans look bad. Why are you not getting this? Do you not understand what a bias is? Even if "reality is center-left" as you say, a left bias can still exist in reporting.

Him: I have no problem with what you perceive to be a bias, because you are just fooling yourself as to how right you think your side is. There is no actual NY Times bias.