In the past week members of the media have had to do what they don’t like to do – report on themselves.

This is the fallout of CBS News anchor Dan Rather’s infamous report on President Bush’s Air National Guard service record. The report centers around documents which upon inspection reveal themselves to most likely be forgeries.

This case forces members of the media to address a myriad of issues vital to their profession. Rather’s story brings into questions the use of anonymous sources, fact checking documents and other sensitive subjects for journalists. The biggest issue in this story is a simple four-letter word that is one of the worst insults to any serious journalist – bias.

Various news outlets have reported people inside CBS News raised red flags about the documents’ authenticity before Rather’s report went on air, but Rather moved on with the report anyway. This raises many serious questions. Did Rather intentionally want to slant the news? Did he think no one would notice the questionable documents? How many times in Rather’s 42-year career with CBS has he done this?

However, CBS is refusing to answer these questions. Instead they are standing by the man who used to wield more power in the broadcast news industry than anyone else. Anyone inside CBS that questions Rather is dispensed like a Russian dissident to Siberia. Brian Maloney, a Settle radio talk-show host was fired by CBS affiliate KIRO-AM after he said he felt Rather should retire or be fired over this incident.

Rather is not a supporter of President Bush. His report was more than likely an attempt to slow down Bush’s campaign under the guise of legitimate news. Instead of damaging Bush’s campaign for reelection, he’s helped it. Every day the media focuses on Rather’s shortcomings as a journalist, Bush gets to avoid serious questions. Rather also helped Bush rally his political base by reinforcing the perception that the “liberal media” is out to stop conservatives at all cost.

President Bush’s Air National Guard record had already been reported on earlier this year. Rather took a stale story and tried to revive it with questionable information at a time John Kerry was starting to lag in the polls. Did Rather have legitimate breaking news on Bush’s service record or did he just want to help Kerry close the gap in the polls?

The media has a responsibility to report accurate and objective information to the public. The framers of the constitution knew it was important to have a free media to keep officials in check, but failed to provide checks and balances for members of the media.

The public is the only check on the media. They decide whether or not a news organization is doing its job by making the choice to tune in to a network or subscribe to a newspaper or magazine.

However there is no perfect model for a news organization. Each has its own flaws. The only way the public can ensure it gets unbiased news is by getting its news from a variety of sources and coming to their own conclusions.

If you only listen to Fox News, you are getting their version of the truth. If you are listening to CBS News, you are getting their version of the truth.

Watch both and a few others to find your own version of the truth.