| Technology makes the instantaneous and virtually | | | | programs to insure that they are glossed over or |
| ubiquitous observation of world events possible, | | | | missed altogether. Other sources of bias may be |
| but evidence of bias in the news media can make | | | | less obvious, such as when stories load up with |
| you wonder whether you can believe what you | | | | expert testimony to support one viewpoint, or |
| see and hear. World news is being transmitted by | | | | when stories use language to "spin" the facts to |
| a global media, through a prism of sometimes | | | | favor one side over another. |
| deliberate and sometimes inadvertent bias. | | | | What is the average person to do in order to get |
| The most timely and blatant example of bias in | | | | to the truth? First, know the difference between |
| the media continues to be the coverage of | | | | news commentary or editorials and the news |
| President Obama, which began in earnest during | | | | itself. The former is, by definition, opinion and likely |
| his presidential campaign and has gathered | | | | to be biased; the latter is supposed to offer a |
| momentum ever since. The mainstream media's | | | | balanced view of all sides of a story. |
| favoritism for Barack Obama during the general | | | | Unfortunately, traditional news outlets, such as |
| election was even more egregious than that | | | | The New York Times, NBC, and many others, |
| alleged by the Hillary Clinton campaign during the | | | | have blurred the line between traditional news |
| democratic primary. Studies show that candidate | | | | reporting and opinionated commentary. On cable |
| Obama received more media coverage overall | | | | TV, chances are high that if a "news program" is |
| than other candidates and much less negative | | | | interesting and entertaining, it is probably news |
| press than his opponents. The media's | | | | commentary. Offerings such as "Hardball," with |
| extraordinary deference to the president often | | | | Chris Matthews and "Hannity's America," with |
| makes us wonder if the media is acting more as | | | | Sean Hannity are examples. |
| an eager extension of his public relations team | | | | Second, ascertain the most knowledgeable |
| than as a group of supposedly impartial journalists. | | | | sources and focus on individuals who substantiate |
| They appear to be advocating rather than | | | | their viewpoints with concrete examples or |
| reporting on the president's activities. | | | | experience. I have found only a handful of |
| Members of the media would have us believe that | | | | politicians, government officials, industry experts, |
| the appearance of bias is a figment of our | | | | and media pundits that actually provide thoughtful |
| imaginations, but do not publicize the fact that | | | | insight and meaningful perspective on topics and |
| more than a third of them identify themselves as | | | | issues. (Many commentators speak in generalities, |
| liberal compared to less than ten percent who | | | | make non-committal comments or repeat the |
| claim a conservative orientation. The media also | | | | mainstream view.) Verify the credibility of the |
| does not readily admit that most journalists tend | | | | sources you choose by researching their |
| to vote emphatically democratic, and have done | | | | backgrounds and their affiliations on the internet. |
| so for decades. Most interesting, however, is that | | | | Understanding their backgrounds and professional |
| although they fail to see bias in themselves, more | | | | ties may help you to verify expertise and identify |
| than two-thirds of reporters, editors, producers, | | | | conflicts of interest that may bias a source's |
| and executives of mainstream media outlets | | | | perspective on a topic. |
| readily agree that Fox News is decidedly | | | | Third, limit your news venues, such as |
| conservative. Are we really supposed to believe | | | | newspapers, televised programs or internet-based |
| that the media's obvious orientation toward liberal | | | | media, to those offering the most substance and |
| ideas and democratic candidates has no bearing | | | | a broad range of perspectives. In addition, for |
| on its objectivity? You may draw your own | | | | national political, economic and societal matters, |
| conclusions. | | | | you should consider viewing C-SPAN, which |
| In addition to the obvious lopsided political | | | | televises congressional hearings, important |
| orientation of the media generally, mounting | | | | speeches and other events on numerous topics. |
| commercial pressures in journalism are also | | | | Although a time-inefficient medium, C-SPAN |
| causing many media sources to succumb to | | | | provides a valuable opportunity to hear directly |
| sensationalism in order to capture market share, | | | | from people creating the news, without the filter |
| attain popularity in ratings and ultimately to make | | | | of a third party. |
| profits. Is it any wonder that we question the | | | | These are difficult times and decisions are being |
| integrity of our news media? | | | | made today by our leaders that will have a |
| Bias takes many forms. Facts may be distorted in | | | | far-reaching and profound effect on our lives for |
| news stories or may be conveniently omitted. | | | | many years to come. As citizens of a free |
| Newsworthy stories may be completely excluded | | | | democracy, we have both a right and an |
| from newspapers or TV programs or buried so | | | | obligation to get to the truth. |
| far back in printed media, or so late in televised | | | | |