By: Grok
First instance of bias: https://blnnews.com/2026/10/10/wglt-bias/
If WGLT exists to be left wing media, add that to your name. If you want to be fair and balanced, pick an AI and let it show you where you aren’t before posting stories. I expect neither to happen.
Here’s the WGLT story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-10-12/differing-types-of-public-service-shape-key-mclean-county-board-race
This is Grok’s response when I asked it to examine that story for bias:
Where bias appears
1. Framing of “public service”
The headline and lede (“Differing types of public service”) set up a contrast.
- Brown’s service is described warmly: Jaycee, technology commission, leadership on an inclusive playground for special-needs children, and a desire to “take that community involvement to another level.”
- Lower’s is presented more transactionally: former alderman, unsuccessful mayoral run, self-described “fiscal hawk” focused on reducing the tax burden.
This subtly elevates volunteer/community-style service over prior elected experience and tax-focused governance.
2. Language and values emphasis
Brown is given unchallenged progressive framing:
“Housing is a human right. I think folks should be able to afford a place to live. I don’t think that people should be going hungry in one of the richest nations.”
Lower’s core message (“many in our culture are overly taxed”) is presented more starkly and is immediately contextualized by the reporter (the sales-tax fund has grown to $20 million; county officials want to continue the programs). Brown’s values language receives no equivalent counterpoint or scrutiny.
3. Detail and scrutiny imbalance
Lower’s specific past votes and positions receive more concrete detail and mild pushback (no sunset on the sales tax, officials’ desire to keep the programs). Brown’s record is lighter on specific policy history and heavier on positive community anecdotes. Her State Farm contract-negotiation experience is framed as directly transferable to taxpayer stewardship without challenge.
4. Opening political frame
The story begins with Republican needs (“If Republicans hope to win back control… they will need to flip three Democratic seats”), which is accurate but immediately places the race in a partisan win/loss context rather than starting with the candidates or the district.
When was the last time you saw a WJBC or Pantagraph vehicle at a news scene? WJBC used to have the slogan that they were the “Spirit of the County”. They even held “on air” breakfasts at small town diners once a week throughout the County to get your opinion. The Pantagraph used to print your opinion in letters to the editor. Now they have a limited stock of a dozen or so syndicated left-wing columnists they rely heavily on. Local opinion letters are rarely printed and well sorted for left-wing favor.
More recently 92.9 FM did a good job reporting local news and had good “on air” personalities to deliver a right of center perspective. That is all gone now. Might be a lot of dead air now that the Cubs dried up. At least we have BLN news to help restore news sanity in the greater McLean County area.
Yeah, and the Pantagraph seems to intentionally hold back letters supporting Kathy Michaels. Just proves the bias.
Don’t be fooled by little Mrs blonde.
“oh I guess if I had to pick I would probably lean a little Democrat.” And then she trots out bread and butter democratic socialists platform policies:
“Housing is a human right. I think folks should be able to afford a place to live. I don’t think that people should be going hungry in one of the richest nations,” Brown said.
Keep in mind, America is literally the fattest nation on earth, and lower income people have a higher BMI than richer people in average. Our problem is a actually too much food.
But I guess Democrats want government funded housing and government grocery stores here in McLean county.
AI is not needed at all to tell this article is biased in favor of Brown. It’s extremely evident in the phrasing E.S. used when stating facts about Brown vs. Lower. The thing is, the bias isn’t going to matter because the article is for the audience that supports WGLT which is older, white, Democrat-voting, wealthy donors. If you look at any of their event photos, it’s so evident who their base is. They are going to report accordingly.