Media Matters documents bias toward conservative faith leaders

Media Matters: "'I have long felt the media has given Americans a distorted view of what people of faith believe,' said the Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches USA (NCC). 'This research from Media Matters proves that.'

Edgar joined other religious leaders at a National Press Club news conference here along with representatives of Media Matters for America, a research and analysis group that monitors national media.

'Left Behind: The Skewed Representation of Religion in Major News Media,' is the title of a report issued by Media Matters. The group studied major television and print media outlets from the day following the 2004 election through December 2006. They discovered that television news programs interviewed, mentioned or quoted conservative religious leaders 3.8 times more than progressive or mainstream faith leaders. Major newspapers quoted conservative leaders 2.7 times more often. "