Them

I'm late to the article in question below, I know. But the issue it raises won't go away any time soon.

So is media bias to report any hint of anger at conservative events while downplaying actual violence at left wing gatherings a sign that the people in the media by and large prefer big government solutions?

Sure, I imagine the reporters do prefer big government. But the reaction to protests takes place at a much more basic level. I think the answer is personal.

The media is full of people on the left wing. They know the left wing types out there protesting. Indeed, a lot of the media used to be those left wing types out there protesting. So, knowing them, when violence breaks out in a left wing protest, it is easy to see their motives are pure and they are simply--momentarily before calming down--acting out of frustration that they can't do more good things. It will pass. And they mean well.

But the right at a protest is different. The media doesn't really know them. They can't imagine they are up to any good at all. They are viewed as a mass of racist, homophobic, misogynistic, anti-science sloped forehead types. They may be able to stay calm for a while when the cameras are on them, but they are seething with rage. So when there is the tiniest hint of anger, to the media this is just that vast true face of vile anger about to break out and unleash a wave of counter-revolution to undo all the good that the left has done.

I think it is as simple as that. The members of the media give their friends the benefit of the doubt and suspect the worst of those they don't know. Heck, all of their friends think that way, too. Why shouldn't they?