This letter is in response to Kelly Rush's "1981 study proves media's liberal bias," (SN 2/6). It is disturbing that you would bring up a study conducted more than 20 years ago to validate the political leanings of today's media.

If you would have done a little more research on more contemporary articles, you would have read about the rapid consolidation of media outlets in the last five to 10 years.

While the journalists have to put the story together, it is the media conglomerates that present the story to the public. You claim that journalists are liberal in their views, but do you make the same claim about their bosses? Are Disney (ABC), General Electric (NBC) and AOL/Time Warner (CNN, WB and HBO) as liberal as their employees? The short answer is no.

I would advise you to read "What's Wrong With This Picture?" by Mark Crispin Miller. The article illustrates how 10 multinational corporations control the American media and the messages the public hear and see.

If you find comfort in studies conducted in 1981 and try to apply them to media in 2003, you are only deceiving yourself.

Kris Wojtysiak
labor and industrial relations graduate student