Bias vs.

Perspective
Presentation created by Mr. Schmitt
 Bias
 Basic definition: a personal and
sometimes unreasoned judgment,
prejudice.
 In news: Only showing one side to the
story, or neglecting one side. *Overtly
including opinion.
 Perspective
 Basic definition: Cognitively
speaking, it is a person’s point of
view, or belief system.
 In news: Presenting information
from multiple sides/view points.
 Viewing Media Critically
 To view the media from a critical
approach, the viewer must
incorporate critical lenses such
as: deconstruction, Marxist,
feminist, New Criticism.
 How does the media shape our views?
Who is the target audience for this advertisement? What are
the underlying messages/biases?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9tWZB7OUSU

Where do you see bias in these video clips?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu_VRaVaEjw
 Examples of Bias in the Media
President Obama and CIA Tactics
ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=7354198
FOX News: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/21/intelligence-
director-high-value-information-obtained-harsh-interrogations/
New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/us/politics/17detain.html
Detroit Free Press: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=200990421085
BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8011077.stm
LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-
interrogation17-2009apr17,0,5555846.story
 Conflict of Interest
To avoid having bias in your writing keep
opinion out of it!
Try to avoid conflict of interest, for example:
Don’t write a news story on the football team
if you are a player. Don’t write a news story
on the upcoming election if you are an
extreme liberal.
Examples of Perspective in the Media
 Writing a sports news story on the Homecoming
game and including quotes from both coaches,
players on both teams, fans from both sides.
 Writing a human interest story on an autistic student
“J-Mac” who played in the last basketball game of
the season.
 Why is it important?
As journalists, it is your responsibility to write stories fairly with little
evidence of bias. If you were the E.C. for the newspaper why wouldn’t
you let Missy, head cheerleader and staff member, write the story on the
Cheerleading Team making the State Finals Tournament?
When writing news stories make sure to include multiple perspectives.
For example when writing a story on student council, try to get quotes
from the adviser, the president, and multiple members from the club.
It can be a problem…If too much bias is evident, readers might not trust
the source and discredit the information that is being presented.
 Homework
Please find two examples of bias
in news articles.
Please find two good examples of
using multiple perspectives
(telling both sides).