The influence of the media in how political campaigns unfold is nothing new — although the type and nature of that influence can be hotly contested.

Every candidate at some point comes to believe the media is being unfair to them in some way, and often with good reason. A couple of recent stories regarding how the media is shaping the 2016 campaign demonstrate the point.

Consider the case of businesswoman Carly Fiorina, who by nearly every account is surging in the polls …