The Dallas Morning News admitted to its coverage being biased against right-leaning views on Thursday, publishing an op-ed article to explain to its readers why these viewpoints are not well-represented in its articles.
DMN public editor Stephen Buckley acknowledged that some of its readers have complained about a lack of fairness in the newspaper’s stories, alleging bias in reports about the Israel-Hamas war, issues involving transgender people, and former President Donald Trump, among other topics.
“In particular, conservative voices are frequently missing,” he admitted.
“Our Education Lab team, overseen by editor Eva-Marie Ayala, covers a host of hot-button political issues, from school choice (education savings accounts) to culture-war controversies. Readers complain that sometimes conservative voices do not show up in those stories. I would agree,” Buckley wrote.
He claimed, however, that some right-leaning politicians and activists have been reluctant to be quoted by DMN.
“They see cooperation with us as a stain on their street cred,” Buckley alleged. “They don’t ignore only our journalists; they ignore all mainstream reporters.”
He cited DMN executive editor Katrice Hardy, who reportedly agreed that there was room for improvement in the realms of objectivity and fairness.
“Often our work can come across as lacking objectivity because we haven’t gotten the other side, but even if we haven’t, we often don’t say how we tried to reach the person. Sometimes when you’re not transparent about those efforts, it can appear as if you’ve never tried,” Hardy had said, according to Buckley.
“Hardy has told the newsroom that reporters need to be more transparent with readers when they can’t reach someone. Stories now regularly tell us how hard reporters tried to contact a source,” Buckley wrote.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, DMN has received backlash from local leaders for its alleged left-wing bias.
DMN articles that have received criticism include a piece that appeared to choose a side on a social-political issue: “Texas’ harsh moves against transgender youth provoke a backlash from big business.”
Another article suggested racial bias was afoot in the way the state’s tollway system operates: “Texas tollway authorities show little mercy for Texans of color, vulnerable communities.”
“The news should be based on facts, not opinions. When media is clearly driven by political activism, most people are distrusting of it,” Texas Coalition for Kids president Kelly Neidert previously told DX.
The Dallas Express reached out to DMN’s editorial board, its publisher Grant S. Moise, and Buckley, but none were immediately available for comment.