When it comes to concerns about bias in the news media, just about everyone has an opinion.

Readers gave me an earful this week in response to last week's column about what some consider to be bias in news coverage. The column described what journalists at the AJC are doing to address those concerns, which are legitimate on occasion.

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But it's fair to say that many people who contact us about fairness issues have their own biases. How people process what they read often depends on their views.

An example of this is the reaction to media coverage of the remarks made by Barack Obama's pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. I'm still getting e-mails from readers who believe the AJC and the rest of the "mainstream media" underplayed what they consider to be a blockbuster story.

"The media is treating this as a case of: 'It's old news so let's move on.' Trust me, if it were a conservative who was in this position, the Fourth Estate would be screaming around the clock for blood," said Bill Savage of Lithonia. "Speech or no speech, Sen. Obama has not, to the best of my knowledge, advised us how he, a Harvard Law School graduate, was able to sit in a church for two decades and be in total ignorance of its doctrines and beliefs."

Are Wright's remarks news? Yes. But I believe they have been adequately covered. Is it fair to judge Wright — a former United States Marine with a long history of helping others — by a few of his more incendiary sound bites?

Those who believe the Wright story is a big deal have focused on the pastor's critical comments about American foreign policy and his support of Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan. Obama has decried Wright's volatile remarks while trying to put them in the context of Wright's background and age group. His refusal to denounce Wright personally is seen as hypocritical by some.

Since the AJC's editorial board has endorsed Obama, several readers believe it is impossible for the newspaper to offer objective coverage of the candidate. In fact, the work of the editorial board often comes up in conversations about bias.

"Thank you for acknowledging the presence of bias in the news media," wrote reader Robert A. Madayag III. "If the AJC is against bias, why does it seem that it disproportionately endorses Democrats running for office? What is the percentage of Republican to Democrat presidential candidate endorsements? Why make endorsements anyway, as it seems to indicate which political party the staff leans toward?"

The editorial board's work is separate from the work of news reporters, who are expected to deliver balanced coverage. But many readers don't believe us when we say that editorial writers don't influence the news.

That disbelief is one argument some newspaper editors have given for abandoning the longstanding practice of endorsing candidates.

I can't imagine a newspaper without endorsements and a strong opinion section. I rely on endorsements to summarize the strengths and weaknesses of candidates and their records. Good editorial writers and columnists give informed opinions after careful analysis of the facts. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I don't. It is always interesting reading. The board acknowledges the importance of differing viewpoints by publishing a variety of local and national columnists.

In the news pages, a number of checks and balances are employed to foster balance. Line editors and copy editors question missing details, and reporters are expected to make sure all sides are represented. Photographers and design and copy editors determine story play, headlines and which photographs will be used with fairness in mind.

Since concerns about bias are so prevalent, Tom Grieshober of Powder Springs suggests that editors gather examples from readers and categorize them by subject matter. Tracking such complaints in a database is not a bad idea.

"I hope it generates positive feedback in creating higher circulation and a more balanced newspaper," he said. "Newspapers are not dead yet, and they can still play an important role through factual information both good and bad. Create an even playing field and let the readers decide."