Journalists and scholars will tend to prefer Party Z, because Party Z has got it right about the facts they care about. Thus begins a vicious cycle: Party Y attacks and undermines academia and the media for perceived bias, pushing the experts further toward Party Z. But now, given their bad treatment by Party Y, they much prefer Party Z — the party that supports, respects and believes them. Party Y’s charges of bias thus find firmer footing: On this point, at least, Party Y is factually correct. Public education and freedom of the press can only be saved if Party Z proves stronger.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 27, 2017 12:00 UTC