[*A news ombudsman is employed by a newspaper to receive and investigate complaints from newspaper readers (or listeners or viewers of radio and television stations) about accuracy, fairness, balance and good taste in news coverage. He or she recommends appropriate remedies or responses to correct or clarify news reports.]

1.  In the excerpt below, the head of news at The New York Times, executive editor Jill Abramson, "says she disagrees with Brisbane's 'sweeping conclusions.'"  Do you think the New York Times' public editor's [ombudsman] declaration that the newspaper is biased (in favor of the liberal side of social issues) is correct or incorrect?  Explain your answer.

2.  What motive might Ms. Abramson have for denying that The Times has a bias in favor of the liberal side of the issue? 

3.  Departing ombudsman Arthur Brisbane wrote: "Across the paper's many departments, though, so many share a kind of political and cultural progressivism [liberalism]...that this worldview virtually bleeds through the fabric of The Times."  Does reading this cause you to question Times' news reports on cultural issues? Explain your answer.