How to detect bias in News Media:

The Media has tremendous power in setting cultural guidelines and in

shaping political power. It is essential that news and the media are
challenged to be fair and accurate. Here are some questions to ask
yourself about news media, be it the internet, newspaper, TV or radio:
1. Who are the sources?

To illustrate issues fairly and accurately, the media must pull their stories
from a wide range of sources. Otherwise, they serve merely as
megaphones for those in power.
2. Is there a lack of diversity?

For media to fairly represent different communities, they need to have

members of these communities presenting their stories. Do you think its
fair that an all-white panel of experts discuss issues that effect people of
color? Or an all-male panel discuss womens rights?
3. Is there a lack of context?

News media can fail to focus on some of the institutional factors which
gives power to prejudicesuch as larger issues of economic inequality.
4. Is the language loaded?

Does the language chosen give the reader an inaccurate impression of the
issue, program or community?
5. From whose point of view is the news reported?

Many stories on abortion have emphasized the tough choice confronting

male politicians while quoting no women under 18 whom arguably hold
the most at stake in the debate.
6. Are there double standards?

A person of color commits a crime and is called a predator. A white

person commits the same crime and is said to have been tragically led
astray.
7. Are stories on important issues featured prominently?

Articles on the front page of the Newspaper and the lead stories on TV and
radio have the biggest influence on public opinion. Are the headlined
stories the most important ones?
8. Do the headlines and stories match?

A headline reads; STUDY SAYS DONT DRINK WARM WATER!. The story
however goes on to say 16 different plastic bottled water brands were
kept at 70 degrees for over a week to test if warm water from a plastic
bottle was harmful. At the end of the week only 1 brand was deemed
slightly harmful. Does the headline match the story?

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Match the headlines with the report

About ten thousand soldiers were seen
A
marching up and down the hill near Brisbane.
It has been reported that Little Bo-peep cannot
B
find her sheep. They seem to have magically
disappeared. She has looked for them
everywhere.
Although the old bus-stop beside a village
C
green in Broomfield is rarely used, the only way
Hannah can get to the village is by bus. But
this is about to change as the council cannot
afford to run a bus service.
Temperatures today will not rise above 12oC,
D
which is below average for June. There is a
possibility of rain and gusts of wind.
Jane and Ross are heroes to 84yr old Mrs.
E
Bennett. They saved my life, she said from
her hospital bed.
It would be good to have the school year split
F
into four terms instead of three. The summer
holiday is too long. We forget a lot during a six
week holiday. If we had a shorter summer
holiday we would not need to spend so much
time on revision every february.
Dave thinks that there really is a monster living G
in Barwon. He has taken pictures of strange
dark monster shapes near Barwon River.
A Scientist has been researching pyramids. He
H
has discovered a pyramid with a magical
entrance.
A new trap for catching woodworms is on sale.
I
We will no longer have to use poisonous sprays
to get rid of them.
A peacock has been seen flying over Carlton. It
J
was reported missing from the zoo last week. It
created a lot of excitement around the area.

Sheep magically
disappeared.
Rescued by heroes

School year with

shorter summer
holiday
Magic Pyramid
No buses to or
from Village Green
Where is the
Summer?

Peacock
excitement
Invasion Scare
Barwon Monster
Scare!
Poisonous sprays
out of fashion