1. How to Detect bias in the news

2. Recap What do the following terms mean? Objective Subjective
Persuasive
Bias

3. Why study bias?
Despite the journalistic ideal of “objectivity,” every news story is influenced by the attitudes and background of its interviewers, writers, photographers, and editors
Not all bias is deliberate
You can become a more aware news reader, viewers, or listener by watching for the following journalistic techniques that allow bias to “creep in” to the news

4. Bias through selection and omission
Choosing to use, or not to use, a specific news story
Ignoring some details and including others can give viewers a different opinion
This type is difficult to detect
Can only really be found by comparing different news reports on the same topic
If a news story on Linsanity is front page news and another story on the Northern Gateway Pipeline is not featured, then that selection and omission would reflect a particular bias

5. Bias through placement
Where a story is placed influences whether readers/viewers think it’s important
Readers judge first page (or first listed) stories to be the most important
Television and radio newscasts run the most important stories first and leave less significant for later

6. Bias by headline Headlines are the most-read part of the paper
Example
Headlines are the most-read part of the paper
They can convey excitement, express approval or condemnation, etc.
Detroit Lions Lose 2 of Last 3 Games
Vs.
Detroit Still Second in Division with 6-3 Record

7. Smiley face artist may face charges
A 43-year-old male was questioned and released by police officers Tuesday afternoon after he was caught drawing a smiley face on the center of the Diag. The man was using a permanent marker to apply the grafiti, making it a miscellaneous destruction of property because it does not wash away. Overton said the man is "somebody (DPS) deals with frequently" for trespassing, making it more likely he will be prosecuted for the crime.

8. Bias by photos, captions, and camera angles
Some pictures flatter a person, and others make the person look unpleasant
Photos influence opinion
One photo tells the reader that Brangelina are happy, and the other tells us they’re splitting up

10. Bias through use of names and titles
News media use labels and titles to describe people, places, and events
A person can be called an “ex con” or can be referred to as someone who “served time twenty years ago for a minor offense”
Both titles are true, but they send very different messages about the person

11. Bias Through statistics and crowd counts
Numbers can be inflated or deflated to make an event seem more or less spectacular
Numbers reflect opinions of the person doing the counting
Look for words like “only” “
“Approximately one hundred injured in air crash”
Vs.
“Only minor injuries in air crash”