INFO 3000: Information and Society: Media Bias

Media Bias

Media Bias occurs when journalists or news organizations let their own opinion affect the news that they report, and how they report it. Journalistic standards and practices are designed to minimize implicit biases, but nothing humans produce is entirely free of bias. This is also true for generative AI, as it, too, was created by humans and continues to learn from humans. Therefore, media bias isn't necessarily a bad thing, but hidden bias can mislead, manipulate, and even deceive. This is why it is important to learn how to detect media bias in the news and information that we consume.

There are 5 main types of bias: 

• Partisan
  A type of bias in which a journalist’s political views affect news coverage.

• Demographic
  A type of bias in which race, gender, ethnicity or other factors — such as culture or economic class — affect news coverage.

• Corporate
  A type of bias in which the business or advertising interests of a news outlet, or its parent company, influence how — or even whether — a story is reported.

• "Big story"
  A type of bias in which journalists’ perceptions of an event or development as a major, important story can cause them to miss key details and misrepresent key facts.

• Neutrality
  A type of bias in which a journalist or news outlet tries so hard to avoid appearing biased to anyone that the coverage actually misrepresents the facts.

Forms of media bias:

• Bias by story selection
  Bias by story selection occurs when a news outlet only runs stories that reflect a particular point of view.
• Bias by omission
  A news story might present only one side of a story and omit facts or other details that support a different viewpoint. For instance, a newscaster might only interview liberal commentators or a website might only quote conservative sources.
• Bias by source selection
  An article or news story might interview or reference more sources that support one view over another.
• Bias by commission
  Bias by commission occurs when a news outlet or reporter passes along assumptions that tend to support one point of view or political party. Examples include stating that "slashes in social spending caused increased infant mortality and homelessness" or repeating unproven conspiracy theories involving a politician.
• Bias by placement or layout
  A news editor can promote certain stories by featuring them prominently (on the front page or at the top of a website) while “burying” other stories that reflect another point of view. Television or radio stations might report the “favored” stories first and the less favored later in the broadcast.
• Bias by word choice or tone
  The word choices a journalist makes or the tone a newscaster adopts can manipulate the public’s reaction to a news story. Loaded or sensational words can elicit a positive or negative emotional response. Examples include choosing the word infanticide over abortion or anti-choice over pro-life, or using the word gloat to describe a politician's response to a news story.
• Bias by labeling
  Labeling occurs when positive or negative labels are assigned to one group but not another (for example, "extreme right" or "far-left").
• Bias by image selection
  Flattering or unflattering photographs, images, or camera angles can also influence the public’s perception of a person or event. The images an editor or producer selects might reflect a bias.

~ News Literacy Project

For example, this image shows Partisan Bias in the forms of Word Choice or Tone as well as Image Selection.   

Partisan Bias

Let’s look a little closer at Partisan Bias. It is a big one in our current society as most media outlets seem to align with one political party or another. Sometimes the media even seems to be driving politics through their coverage. This type of biased coverage can be both good and bad. It may repeat and normalize misinformation spread by a politician or a political party. Conversely, it may reveal misinformation from an opposing viewpoint. Either way, people seem to enjoy viewing media that agrees with their world view. (Confirmation Bias) 

There are organizations that track partisan bias in the media. They can be helpful when trying to identify where on the political spectrum different news outlets fall. For example, examine the following charts:

For an interactive, more readable version visit adfontesmedia.com

With all these kinds of bias, it can be pretty hard to find unbiased news. In fact, everyone has some bias, and that will come through in the news to one degree or another. There is no one perfect source of news that you can consult for a completely unbiased take on the world. But that doesn't mean it's not worth reading the news. You are biased too, and there's nothing wrong with that, but the best way to compensate for your own bias is to read and hear different perspectives to keep your mind open. Reading the news, especially reading multiple publications, can be incredibly helpful for having a fuller understanding of the world. This is especially true in a time with the Wild West of social media, which are designed to keep you using them as long as possible, which means information is not being checked by journalists or editors, and is biased in whatever way means it will keep you using it the most.

~Libguides: News Media: News Bias. News Bias - News Media - LibGuides at Triton College. (n.d.). https://library.triton.edu/c.php?g=1393486&p=10306402