As we examine the problem of bias in the news, you're probably thinking, "I'm not prejudiced. So I would never be biased in my reporting or writing." But bias isn't the same thing as prejudice. Prejudice is a deliberate negative feeling or attitude. Bias is a tendency or an inclincation to assume a certain viewpoint, and a bias may be favorable or unfavorable and is not always deliberate. Indeed, most reporters are unaware of bias in their reporting until someone points it out to them.
Even if your work is free of bias, you need to be a critical observer of the news media and have a greater understanding of bias in reporting. Because it happens. All the time.
Bias can occur in many ways, particularly through:
- Selection and omission of specific details
- Placement of a story
- Choice of sources
- Word choice and tone
- Headlines
- Photos and camera angles
- Captions
- Names and titles
- Statistics
While reading through each of the articles, I did not suspect any bias information. However, after reading the additional comments, I realized that each story was, in fact, biased. This made me realize that we may read and write more bias news that we actually realize.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading each of the articles about the U-2 planes, I could not tell there was bias in the stories. But, when looking at the comments made about certain things in the articles, I realized that the author was being bias. In this case, the author took advantage of the reader because most people were not there to see what really happened. Therefore, the reader does not know the exact true story and must depend on the journalist to give them correct, unbiased information. It's very important to always double check yourself and make sure you are not writing something bias.
ReplyDeleteThe articles would not seem biased if read separately, but reading them side by side gives a certain insight to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) opinions expressed in them. The notes on certain words and phrases were also very helpful. We certainly need to do our best to keep bias out of our writing.
ReplyDeleteThese two articles are prime examples of how a writer can take any story and give it a new meaning by highlighting certain information, and diverting attention from other information.It is amazing to think how sometimes we don't even realize we're writing with bias, yet it shows in the story. I definitely believe that being totally objective when writing a story is more of a dream than a reality.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading and analyzing both articles, it is apparent how biased writers can be while writing articles. You can tell the writer's personal views by reading their articles, however that should not be the case. Public articles should be un-biased, showing both sides of the story, not just one. Writers, knowingly or unknowingly, leave out important information or use certain phrases and quotes that can change the view of the story, favoring one side more than the other. When writing articles, i feel that writers need to be more careful of not writing biased information because it could change a small incident into a huge ordeal.
ReplyDeleteA reporter's primary concern should be to report the news, obviously, and then report it neutrally. However, with these two examples, it is shown how biased news reporters can be by highlighting certain information or placing certain facts above others. The reporter subconsciously persuades the reader to conform to their feelings and beliefs if they report biased information. I believe in reporting things as unbiasedly as possible. Although this isn't the case for the majority of the time, I would take a slight grain of salt with all news that is reported.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I only read through the articles, and both apeared to be basically unbiased. After reading the additional comments I was amazed to find bias in both stories that I never would have thought of.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the two articles they appeared to be normal, until I started to understand what was happening and how each article was taking one side. The reporter makes you want to agree with what they are saying and their point of view, so before you realize it, you have become a biased reader. Bias news is nearly in everything we read and write, yet it can be hardly noticeable unless you pay attention.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been difficult to realize that these two articles were biased if you read them separately. But everything that U of M pointed out, was true. The reporters can make you see something, even if it isn't true. The way you use different words, or viewpoints affects your readers. One article could change your opinion on a certain topic. Even without you knowing that it was the reporter's viewpoint and not what actually happened.
ReplyDeleteJournalists, although claiming to be unbiased, may unintentionally slant stories. A reader identifies one way or another with what a journalist is reporting thus creating biased. When reading these articles individually one may not detect bias in reporting, but once both stories are read, bias becomes clear. Careful attempts must be taken to rid stories of bias, however, human nature naturally sways interpretation of writing one way or another.
ReplyDeleteFew biased parts of the articles were somewhat obvious, such as the word choices. However, if it weren't for the notes given to us by U of M, realizing the two articles were biased wouldn't have been so evident. This shows how unintentionally biased journalists may be writing. However, intentional bias may have been the case, too.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not an article is being biased can be a matter of opinion. No matter how unbiased one may be in their article, another may find bias phrases or vocabulary in their eyes.
I always thought that to be bias, it had to be very obvious, but not anymore. I have realized that there are different ways to be bias. These two articles appeared normal at first, but once reading about the different words and phrases I realized that it was bias after all.
ReplyDeleteI recognize that there is bias in news reporting, and that it happens all the time. Therefore, it is important to obtain news from sources that are credible and that consider the full context of the story.
ReplyDeleteIt is also our responsibility to ensure that we communicate accurate information that is free of our negative feelings or attitude.
At first, some of the things that were bias in the examples were hard to spot. Sadly, I think bias journalism is a necessary evil in our society. People want to tune into the news they want to listen to. Nobody in America has have the same opinion, and because of that news has to cater to its audience. No liberal is going to watch Fox News, and not many conservatives will be tuning into NBC. I do think bias should be kept out of journalism, but I don't think it's impossible to a certain extent.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading these articles I noticed only a few clear statements that showed the writer was biased. However, once I read the comments I was able to see that even a single verb or phrase can show a biased point of view. It seems that journalists have to be extremely careful of what words they use, what quotes they use, and even where they place their information. I used to think that being biased was a very clear statement or entire article that shows where the writer stands, but apparently, even a word can come off as biased.
ReplyDeleteI didn't not pick up on the stories' bias statements so much that it affected how I viewed the articles but I did pick up that the writer's were biased slightly, but it was not apparent enough to sway my oppinion.
ReplyDeleteWhen i first read both stories I could not see any bias material or statements. However, after reviewing the stories more closely I was able to see the remarks and comments said in each story that give the reader a feel for how the reporter might feel about the situation. When you are reporting a news story you have to leave your emotions at the door and just state the facts, plain and simple. No emotional ties whatsoever to what your writing, unless it's an opinion piece. Bias writing is almost unintentional because as a writer you want to tell it like it is but at the same time tell it how you believe it to be.
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