[finite_jest]

> every periodical does. I’m not sure what the point of complaining about that is.

That is broadly correct, though not all of them are equally biased. However, journalistic objectivity [1] is something we could demand them to strive for. I'm not sure if the press have always been like this.

> Likewise, it’s not particularly noteworthy that WSJ and Fox News have a conservative bias.

Most of the US mainstream outlets are biased in a particular direction. I've said the before here, but you can see that by taking any reasonable list of major outlets [1], and checking their biases [2][3].

> If we are to get up in arms about something, it should be because they are being deceptive (or worse, publishing false information), not because they are merely biased.

Paltering is also a form of deception, and you could argue that it is quite pervasive and pernicious. I think Mother Jones, and many other outlets, are guilty of that.

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalistic_objectivity

[2]: e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_media_in_the_United_State...

[3]: https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/

[4]: https://www.allsides.com/media-bias/media-bias-ratings

[errcorrectcode]

Bias is only complained about when people passive-aggressively bring their politics into a situation to warp the subject and distract.

There is no such thing as "unbiased" reporting, just as it is impossible to "eliminate racism" or "eliminate rape". Journalists aren't robots. Anyone who tells you they're "unbiased" is either a liar or a fool. Reasonable and accurate reporting, without word weaseling or playing favorites, is honest journalism.