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The dust up on Parliament Hill between Pierre Poilievre and a member of the press gallery sure doesnt look good.

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It is an incident that plays right into Poilievres narrative that the media are biased and out to get him, which, to be fair, many of them are but not all and not the reporter in question.

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Let me be up front, the incident looked horrible on the reporter in question, David Akin of Global, but this isnt a case of media bias it was really bad judgment by Akin.

Ive known Akin for more than 15 years as a fellow journalist and worked with him in launching Sun News Network where he hosted a show and was the Parliamentary Bureau Chief for the network and Sun papers. Hes one of a handful of reporters on the Hill, along with people like Bob Fife at the Globe or Stephanie Levitz at the Star, who I think of as a straight shooter.

He famously broke the story on Trudeau taking the vacation to the Aga Khans island.

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With his outburst on Tuesday though, Akin was over the top. He wouldnt even let Poilievre deliver his statement before he started yelling at him. Outside of partisans, who already dont like Poilievre, most people watching the exchange would think Akin didnt look good.

And that includes Akin himself, who apologized later that day saying many viewers and readers said he was rude.

I agree. Im sorry for that. We all want politicians to answer questions but there are better ways of making that point, Akin posted to Twitter.

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Another angle of Global News reporter David Akin heckling Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, which Poilievre responded calling Akin a "Liberal Heckler". Akin has since posted an apology for his behavior. pic.twitter.com/r5jwp1hAmk

Battles between the Parliamentary Press Gallery over access to politicians and the ability to ask questions have been going on for years. I was there for the boycott and walkout on one of Stephen Harpers news conference way back in 2006 or so.

The problem is that as a group, the issue of access really only becomes an issue when it is Conservatives in power. I cant tell you how many useless process stories Ive seen about how Harper would only take five questions or would limit the amount of time he would spend.

You know who else does that without all the stories painting him out to be a bad man afraid of the media and democracy? Justin Trudeau.

Yet it is only an issue, only becomes a major story, if the Conservatives have limits.

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Thats one of the many ways the gallery shows their bias, that and believing their job is to hold the opposition rather than the government to account. My caution to those complaining about media bias though is that its not everyone and it doesnt happen for the reasons you think.

There are many good reporters in every newsroom in Ottawa, yes, even CBC. People also need to know that any bias, real or perceived, isnt due to the media bailout fund, which newspapers get but TV networks dont, its simply because most journalists consciously or unconsciously agree with Liberal policies and are skeptical of Conservatives.

There is no grand scheme or plot, its just the way they are, and until that changes it will give Poilievre plenty of ammunition to claim hes being picked on.

My advice to the journalists on the Hill is to be fair to the new Conservative leader, treat him the same as youd treat Trudeau. My advice to Poilievre is to realize he shouldnt campaign against the entire gallery, he or his team will need them at some point.

My prediction is both sides will ignore me and were going to see a very hostile relationship due to the actions of both sides in the coming years.

blilley@postmedia.com

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Original post:

LILLEY: There is a Liberal media bias on the Hill but David Akin isn't the problem - Toronto Sun