We're left, right and wrong?

Here is what some readers said in recent weeks, via e-mail and letters to the editor, about how The N&O's campaign coverage was slanted. Their comments have been edited for brevity:

Please cancel my subscription effective immediately. I've received your paper going on three decades now and have always known you were well left of center. However, your most recent rash of biased political reporting has pushed me over the edge.

-- Charles Morris, Raleigh

It's no surprise that you buried the story about Palin ("Panel: Palin abused power" ran Oct. 11 on page 8A) and put crap on the cover. A GOOD paper is unbiased, but The N&O is continuously slanted Republican. You are just a bunch of stupid hillbillies who can't see past the trees you live in.

-- Mark Fisher, Chapel Hill

Your reporting -- misleading, inaccurate and clearly biased in favor of Obama -- is yet another example of why I canceled my N&O subscription, and laugh every time I see more layoffs at your paper.

-- Ron Snyder, Cary

Over the past few months, the articles chosen for print are nothing short of planned attacks on the Democrats. It appears in the headlines, the placement of articles and the content of articles. -- Arthur Johnson, Garner

My contention is that The N&O, along with most news outlets, are biased toward the left. I am a businessman first and breast-beating right-winger second. I believe main media have elevated their personal political reflections, which have resulted in the decline of market share. I don't think your readership is really looking for a conservative-leaning publication, simply a fair representation.

-- Al Hunter, Raleigh

Does anybody else see the irony? I've got it. The Liberal Elites in the Leftist Media are trying to dupe us by APPEARING unbiased so they can forward the Liberal Agenda unchecked. I'll delve for proof of this conspiracy as soon as I've proven the moon landing was faked, Bigfoot is real and Fox News is fair and balanced.

-- Joe Collevecchio, Raleigh

While your reporters may well be searching for the truth in Johnston County (on the dismissal of DWI cases) your newspaper has totally forgotten the search for truth about Barack Obama. The fact is The N&O manages the news, and you do it quite skillfully. Readers are left with the "truth" as you see it, and no real effort has been made to uncover who Obama is.

-- Tom Joyner, Cary

I have noticed a troubling bias (in favor of Republicans) while reading my N&O this week. As a marketing professional and graphic designer for over 30 years, it's easy for me to spot subtle and not-so-subtle bias in headline parsing and copy tweaking.

-- Spring Davis, Durham

I hope you are all laughing all the way to The Raleigh Times Bar at the fact that both right-wingers and left-wingers are complaining about how biased your paper is. It's comical to me. I think you do a fine job in the fairness department.

-- Steven Dennis, Raleigh