Some interesting and frightening comments on civilian casualties in Iraq

This is an interesting read. On the one hand it actually discusses the civilian casualties in Iraq and their impact on recruiting insurgents. It is good that he raises the issue. On the other hand, I found this statement disturbing:

"Massing suggests that part of the reason much of the media has avoided some of the more uncomfortable stories out of Iraq is that during the U.S. presidential election season, the Bush and Kerry campaigns presented opposite views over whether Iraq was going well or badly, and that quickly meant that any news reporting focused on negative aspects of the U.S. presence in Iraq were quickly framed as partisan in intent, and therefore requiring "balance" as a domestic political story might."


Does this mean that if the media thinks reporting facts might cause one to vote differently they should make up things out of "fairness"? Or just ignore the facts and not talk about them. That is neither necessary nor sufficient for fairness. Should't the media be concerned with "truth"? It does exist, really it does.