the "evenhandedness" of the news, he contends. "The idea that all 'viewpoints' are somehow equal is the reason that we
do so badly in arguing our great social is-
sues." Yet at the same time, the news me-
dia-in the absence of any agreed upon
scale of values-may arbitrarily make
some particular value or cause, such as
helping the homeless, supremely impor-
tant. But only for the moment. Tomor-
row's news is almost sure to bring some
newer and more urgent concern. The...