This story provides a fact -- that McClatchy is cutting costs -- then makes two assertions: (1) their papers are left leaning and (2) that is what has led to their financial problems. As a daily reader of the Charlotte Observer, I can vouch for the fact that it is cutting costs. In addition I judge the Observer to have a "progressive" editorial policy tempered by the conservative bent of their circulation area (my wife considers the paper too conservative). However, I have seen no evidence that the Observer's editorial policy in and of itself has led to the financial retrenching. It still enjoys a healthy letters exchange on the editorial pages with opinions ranging over the full political spectrum. So in the absence of some proof, I consider this report poor journalism.