This isn't from the conservative Media Research Center (though I've never heard it charged that they fudge their data -- really, there's no need), so maybe Eric Alterman will consider MediaChannel.org's finding that the three major networks have been bashing President Bush and cheerleading for Sen. John "Flipper" Kerry.

Mainstream news organizations may "filter" the news, as President George W. Bush claimed late last year, but not to omit good stories from their Iraq coverage, but to broadcast more negative news about the president himself, according to a report released today by MediaChannel.org and Media Tenor.

The report reveals a strong negative cast to ABC, CBS and NBC news coverage of the president thus far in 2004. Meanwhile, Senator John Kerry, Bush's certain opponent for November, has received more positive coverage by the same three networks.

According to data compiled for MediaChannel.org by international media monitoring firm Media Tenor, network news broadcasts in January and February contained on average nearly three times more negative news statements about President Bush than about Senator John Kerry.

Nah, Alterman doesn't need to be bothered with those pesky little things called...facts.