It is often said that the only sure winner in American politics is the media. Amid GOP victory parties or the ruined dreams of the Kerry candidacy, the one constant is that the media marches on.

Maybe not this time. Big Media lost big. But it was more than a loss. It was an abdication of authority.

I cannot say that Big Media lost me in 2004. I chose to read, watch, and read different news sources many years ago. Too much of Big Media news reminded me of pre-chewed food. Since I enjoyed hearing both sides so PBS news became my choice. What is amazing is the transformation of the rest of the public this year. The abdication of authority by Big Media has been going on for many years. This year the people noticed that the emperor had no clothes. I cannot tell you how many people mentioned media bias to me. Media bias used to be a strictly Republican lament. Now it was part of the conversations of the common folk. Maybe Big Media news will begin to see their vulnerability to competition and focus their efforts on journalism and less on “king making”.