Conflict is the Story.

In an interview with the Post about his new memoir (scroll down to the middle of the page to find it), former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer hits the nail on the head. "My conclusion is that the press is biased -- biased in favor of conflict," Fleischer says. "There is an ideological element -- a subtle bias on policy issues, particularly on social policy issues, that favors Democrats more than Republicans. But that bias is secondary. Conflict comes first, regardless of whether the press is covering a Democrat or a Republican." Always remember that those things you call "articles" we (in the print media, at least) call "stories." And as any good English teacher or Hollywood screenwriter will tell you, good stories involve conflict.