The Opinion Journal linked to an interesting example of subliminal negativity from the Associated Press which can be found in this article:

Sense of Security Grows in Baghdad

It's too early to say whether last weekend's vote has dealt a blow to the insurgency. But in Baghdad (search), where nearly a quarter of the Iraqi population lives, the absence of any catastrophic attacks in recent days has given people a cautious sense of security.

All that could change with a single deadly car bomb in the heart of the city or sustained mortar fire on the Green Zone (search).

This goes beyond the standard "but", where a news service tries to balance good news with bad news to make sure we don't get our hopes up in Iraq. This is actually making stuff up before it happens.

Or as Opinion Journal writes - Of course it could also change for the better with, say, the capture of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or further improvements in the training of Iraqi security forces. The AP here is "reporting" news that hasn't actually happened--and the only such news it anticipates is bad. Who says the press is biased?

Hey, I can play journalist too! Bulletin: Americans seem pretty confident about the economy with lower unemployment and mortgage rates, but all that could change with another 9/11-style attack on a major city. That was easy - no interviews or anything!