It’s three days now into the Mike Madigan trial and the headlines are in big print on the front pages of Chicago’s biggest newspapers. In the Tribune, for instance, “The Michael Madigan Trial” alongside a big picture of Madigan, his briefcase and his lawyers leaving the courthouse, what they’re calling racketeering case underway. Competing with a bigger picture in the Sun-Times, a close-up headshot of Mike Madigan along with an even bigger headline screaming that Madigan is accused of running a racket. It’s the Sun-Times and the Tribune hunting for readers. 37 paragraphs in the Tribune’s first trial day report, mostly about the prosecution side of the story compared to just five paragraphs about the Madigan side. A similar bias in the Sun-Times. 33 paragraphs mostly about the prosecution side of the story, compared to just 19 paragraphs mostly about the Madigan side. Bias in newspapers is expected, especially in the stories about politics in lawsuits, and bias is perfectly legitimate. But only on pages clearly labeled opinion. In too much of the news about Mike Madigan on trial, that’s not what we’re getting.

Walter Jacobson gives his Perspective: