One of the most enduring myths about the mainstream news media is that they are "liberal." The myth flourishes to the extent that people don't ask pointed questions:

** If the news media are liberal, why have national dailies and newsweeklies regularly lauded those aspects of President Clinton's program that they view as "centrist" or "moderate," while questioning those viewed as liberal?

** If the news media are liberal, why is it that liberals are apt to be denigrated as ideologues, but status quo centrists or "moderates" are presented as free of ideological baggage?

** If the news media are liberal, why did most outlets praise Clinton's selection of David Gergen, who advocated Reagan policies, while pillorying civil rights lawyer Lani Guinier?

** If the news media are liberal, why did they applaud conservative White House appointees like Lloyd Bentsen and Les Aspin, while challenging liberals like Donna Shalala, Johnetta Cole and Roberta Achtenberg?

It also helps to look back at history and ask questions:

** If the news media are liberal, why have Clinton's meager tax hikes on the wealthy been referred to as "soaking the rich" or "class warfare," but President Reagan's giveaways to the wealthy were euphemized as "tax reform"?

** If the news media are liberal, why have national outlets been far tougher in scrutinizing Democratic presidents Carter and Clinton than Republicans Reagan and Bush?

** If the news media are liberal, why have they buried important facts, such as the shrinking of corporate income tax from 25 percent of federal expenditures in the 1960s to only about 8 percent today?

** If the news media are liberal, why have they given short shrift to reform proposals -- tax-financed national health insurance, federally-supported child care, government jobs programs -- that their own polls show are overwhelmingly popular with the public?

Pundits and commentators have gained increasing prominence in the media, often eclipsing the reporters:

** If the news media are liberal, why were the first two political pundits to appear on national TV every day of the week both conservatives: Patrick Buchanan and John McLaughlin? Was it their good looks?

** If the news media are liberal, why does the media spectrum typically extend from unabashed right-wingers to tepid centrists who go to great lengths -- attacking progressive ideas and individuals -- to prove they're not left-wing? Why do pundit debates on national TV have Wall Street Journal reporters representing "the left"?

** If the news media are liberal, why are TV pundit programs -- even on "public television" -- sponsored by conservative businesses like General Electric, Pepsico and Archer Daniels Midland?

** If the news media are liberal, why was Rush Limbaugh the first host in the history of American television to be allowed to use his national politics show to campaign day after day for a presidential candidate?

** If the news media are liberal, why do right-wing hosts usually dominate talk radio -- even in liberal cities?

** If the news media are liberal, why are there dozens of widely syndicated columnists who champion corporate interests, but few who champion consumer or labor rights?

In analyzing the bias of any institution, it helps to look at who owns it. Which leads to a final question:

** If the news media are liberal, why are they owned and sponsored by big corporations that spend millions of dollars to lobby against liberal measures in Washington?