Over a week ago, I noted that liberal radio network Air America was under investigation. It looks like Air America was on the receiving end of potentially several hundred thousand dollars taken out of a charity for underprivileged children. Just the sort of thing you’d expect, say, The New York Times to cover, right? After all, the Times gave lots of ink—also known as free publicity—to the network when it was in its infancy. The paper even plugged a possible Senate candidacy for former funnyman Al Franken, the flagship host on Air America. Considering that the scandal centers on the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx—right in the backyard of Times-land—it seems tailor made for coverage in the nation’s self-proclaimed “newspaper of record.”

But, of course, the establishment media these days is so predictable in how bias shows itself that we all know the Times hasn’t covered the story, and probably won’t unless and until there’s a tidbit of information that casts Air America in a good light.

Michelle Malkin, who has been covering this story extensively, is keeping score in her latest update:

Number of NY Times articles mentioning Air America since March 2004: 59

Number of NY Times articles mentioning the Air Enron scandal: 0

Meanwhile, John Hinderaker of PowerLine takes note of what the Times is covering these days:

In today’s paper, for example, the Times covers a much more boring controversy in which Westchester County’s District Attorney is being pressed to reimburse the county for the expense of after-hours security. The story is a yawner. The DA has a legitimate argument that she needs 24-hour security because of her job; there are no falsified reports or conflicting stories; no one is stealing money from poor children or Alzheimer’s victims; and no one is funding a controversial political and commercial enterprise. Yet the Times finds the story newsworthy, while ignoring Air Enron, which is also taking place in its own back yard. Why? Well, maybe because it’s because the Westchester DA is a Republican, Jeanine Pirro, who is interested in higher office. Or maybe it’s because no hard work—like actually carrying out an investigation—was necessary; all the Times had to do was quote Democratic Party spokesmen.

Or maybe both.

The Times is getting criticized because this is the sort of story that they should be covering, and most certainly would if the hosts on Air America had political views that occupied the other side of the political spectrum.

Investor’s Business Daily argues:

[M]oney intended for poor minority children and Alzheimer’s victims was instead used to make sure the financially tanking and ratings-troubled Air America could keep blathering.

Public funds used to prop up a business! Just the kind of scandal that left-leaning media would die for. Yet for some reason they’re giving this one a pass.

Is it because there are no mean ol’ conservatives to blame?

When [Rush] Limbaugh’s problems with painkillers came to light, the mainstream media could hardly contain themselves. They called him a “pill popper” and hypocrite and cheered for release of his medical records. And when he returned to the air, they couldn’t talk enough about his stay in rehab.

Al Franken, Air America’s featured host, seized the moment and labeled Limbaugh a “drug addict” — after calling him a “Big Fat Idiot” in the title of his book years before.

Nothing wrong, mind you, with reporting on Limbaugh’s woes. Nothing, that is, as long as the media cover flaws of those on the left with equal enthusiasm.

On an increasingly frequent basis, the establishment media unwittingly reveals itself as a champion of a particular ideology, not the dispassionate conveyor of information that they claim to be. At the same time, TV news networks and major newspapers continue to lose audience. Part of that is due to the fact that the Internet has made their distribution channels redundant. Another reason might be that their product has become boring. These days, it is quite easy to predict what stories the Times will report and what spin their coverage will contain. If I can predict what I’ll read in tomorrow’s Times long before the printing presses finish their daily run, why bother paying for the paper?