Media Bias, Part 2

What are we to do?

For the sake of argument, let me say—and I think it’s an unbiased statement—that bias exists in the business of reporting the news. On both sides of the political spectrum.

It shows up in so many ways. (Here are examples from the University of Washington.)

• Bias by headline: Judge Allows Testimony of Another Accuser in Cosby Case (NY Times)…versus…Bill Cosby Sex Assault Trial: Judge Allows Only 1 Other Accuser to Testify, Not 13 (SFGate).

• Bias by photos, captions, and narration of a TV anchor or reporter. The photo below may support the headline, but Mrs. Trump had said nothing about whether she was happy in her role.

• Bias by an editor’s decision to use or not use a story; or the decision to ignore certain details which might give the consumer a skewed perspective about the story. (Toggle between MSNBC, ABC News, and Fox News Channel, and you’re sure to spot the differences in reporting.)

• Where the story appears impacts the level of importance attached by the media consumer. Front page or lead story…way more important than stories on the back pages or the end of a broadcast.

• Bias through names and titles: Trump Picks Sessions for Attorney General (CNN) versus Career Racist Jeff Sessions is Donald Trump’s Pick for Attorney General (The Intercept).

There’s spin, unsubstantiated claims, opinion statements, sensationalism and emotionalism, mudslinging…and a host of other tools used by outlets and reporters to interject subjective content into the news of the day.

Here’s a question: Should the media grant equal coverage to opposing sides of an issue or story?

According to a Pew Research Center study (2022), 55% of journalists do not believe that each side should be given equal coverage in the news. By contrast, 22% of Americans agree with that, while 76% of consumers believe all sides should be given equal coverage. The numbers here vary by age and political factors.

It’s not hard to conclude that our own opinions can be easily shaped over time by what we program into our minds day-in and day-out. Are we receiving a daily diet of progressivism in our consumption of news? Or, do we read, watch, or listen to media that feed us only conservative opinions mixed in with the “news” of the day?

Some rail against Donald Trump’s habit of calling his political opponents unflattering names (I’m one of them. I hate it too!) Yet, from his rise on the political scene in 2015 to this day, he has been subjected to a withering barrage of political, legal, and media attacks—a barrage perhaps unequaled in American political history.

As a consequence we are so divided, we can’t hear each other, let alone engage in intelligent, polite political discourse. Close friends (by inference) have labeled me with epithets equal to anything Mr. Trump has uttered…if I so choose to exercise my Constitutional right and vote for him in November. So much of this discord is media driven, in my opinion.

So what are we to do? I like this list from the University of Arizona, published four years ago to counter misinformation about the Corona Virus. It still applies today in a world of media manipulation.

• Pay attention to where your news is coming from.

• If you get your information from social media, check the original source.

• Within news articles, examine the sources and how they are included.

• Read beyond the headline.

• Get your news from a variety of sources.

• Find out what other information is out there.

In short, happy navigating.