In recent years, many prominent journalists have given up the pretense of neutrality, and sworn off other traditional journalistic fundamentals such as scrutinizing all sides with equal zeal and care, given their perception that the sides are "unequal."
Politico founding editor John F. Harris asserts that adhering to traditional standards need not mean being stylistically bland or pulling punches – and in essence that applying them can redound to the benefit of those who believe the sides are in fact unequal.