> The concept of "bias" as a negative thing seems flawed, as it implies there exists a neutral position that is somehow more correct than any biased one, which typically isn't the case.

Not necessarily. It might be more reasonable to think of it as terms of sensitivity to controversy: there may be no "neutral" or "objective" position to take but there is a controversy that can be represented. If the system just takes a position, it's got a bias and that's negative.