Cindy McCain disses journalists

PHOENIX, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Cindy McCain, wife of defeated Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona, makes clear she doesn't think much of today's news reporting.

In a question-and-answer session with her daughter Meghan, a 2007 graduate of Columbia University who has written for Newsweek -- the session was posted on thedailybeast.com Wednesday -- McCain said that while she's "not bitter," she does "believe there was a media bias" during the 2008 presidential campaign.

"I do believe that the media had a specific agenda and with that said, the American people cast their vote," McCain said. "But I do believe that there is a voyeuristic media: Everyone is a reporter now because everyone has a camera on their phone, the face of reporting in general has changed. There is very little difference now between journalism and gossip.

"I truly feel that unless the media goes back to unbiased reporting they are going to do a disservice to the youth of this country."

McCain cited as a prime example a New York Times piece on her that portrayed her as having a cold personality and that she said was done without the reporter ever interviewing her. McCain said she believes Columbia University journalism instructors are using it as an example of the bias of in reporting.

Having to bite her tongue was the most difficult part of the campaign, she said.

"When I wanted to respond to negative press, I would have to pretend it wasn't bothering me," she said.

McCain said the fact she and her husband decided not to live in Washington over the years has resulted "in some cases both of us ended up being misunderstood by the press."