Thomas Sowell, in his book Knowledge and Decisions made reference to them. If you and the lurking prof Sowell will forgive a paraphrase, (my copy is not handy at the moment):
He claimed that because their only coin of the realm is their ideas, they adopt positions which are designed to challenge the credibility of those groups who base their claims to authority on other "products" (specifically businessmen who base their authority on wealth, and the military who base it upon use of force)
This would follow then that all "intellectuals" (meaning those who's sole product is information so it would include members of the media) would without fail adopt a position considered to the left of the mainstream.
I can't confirm it at the moment, but it seems to me that if a Russian University professor in 1972 was to take a "radical" position, he would not argue for strengthening the communist party but for a more capitalistic view. This would be viewed as revolutionary, and would still be contrary to those parties in authority.
In my opinion, so much of what Prof. Sowell has stood up to verification, that I'm willing to give his assertions the benefit of the doubt. In other words, ... makes sense to me.
What disturbs me is that two Asians, a Chinese and a Vietnamese, were quoted in this article. The Asians have owed a lot of their success to ignoring politics. I just wonder if this is a fluke or a trend.
Although I am a great fan of Sowell I have regretfully to yet read any of his books. I do read all his columns that I see and take all other opportunities to see and hear him on TV and radio.
I appreciate your sharing his views on this subject. I have since given it some thought and it may, indeed, be the basis of their beliefs but I still seek something more fundemental, like guilt, greed, desire for power, atonement, etc. Basic gut emotions that afflict us all in different ways. I suspect it may involve all those things and Sowell's "coin of the realm" example may just be another vehicle rather than reason. But, hey, Sowell is much smarter than I am and this is the first I have seen of this idea and it seems a great one.