These days everyone accuses the mainstream news outlets of bias. Fox News, once we know, is perceived to function as benchmark for conservative news broadcasting. However, MSNBC has evolved, particularly within recent years, as the liberals’ direct reaction to Fox News. On the net, we find the Drudge Report on one side and the Huffington Post on the other. And, of course, we cannot forget the real or perceived biases associated with the rest of the “liberal media”, like the New York Times, CNN, and whoever else. Due to this, it is vital for the those that follow the news to comprehend the subtle techniques by which media outlets attempt to bias their consumers. list of conservative websites following list identifies the most common techniques that attempt to bend the viewer and reader of news to a given point of view. They are as follows:
5) Perceived facts and actual facts
What are the facts of the story? The most non-biased stories only describe the reality, i.e., who, what, why, when, where, and how. To increase the story, a reporter may include eye witness account(s) or expert opinions. In most cases, however, news outlets will air a story based on a couple of perceived facts. Remember, facts are concrete , nor change unless influenced by other facts. Commonly held opinions are most often confused with facts, such as for example “MSNBC and Fox News are really biased news organizations.”
4) Sources and “experts”
Who is quoted in the story? Eye witness sources will be the most credible. In most cases, however, in the absence of eye witness sources, the news outlet will turn to experts to help elucidate the meaning of the reality within the story. You can identify whether an expert is an expert? Or does the “expert” have plans? Perhaps the best types of non-expert exerts are politicians. A tale on climate change, for instance, may include “expert” testimony from the politician. If the politician didn’t come from a professional or academic background that studied climate science, however, itâs likely that the news outlet is more interested in either supporting or discrediting given arguments within the broader debate over climate change.
3) Word choice
Word choice could be the most subtle and manipulative techniques to bias the viewer. The best reporters stick to simple and clear language to communicate the reality within a story. Because there are many linguistic tricks reporters employ to implicitly communicate bias, such tricks could be difficult to identify within a passive viewing environment, such as for example TV news. The very best example is the commonly used implication that a the greater part inside a given demographic share the same opinion, for instance: “the American people believe…” or “lots of people say…”
2) Omission of context
The most commonly cited defense for all those chastised by the media is “I was taken out of context…” Indeed, given today’s reporting, they’re probably right. Snippets from speeches or other sources are easily strung together in some quotes that may either indict or exonerate a person or organization’s opinion.
1) Story selection
Watch the headlines, read the stories. There are several news outlets that only air stories which cast doubt upon one political philosophy and/or prop up their very own. It is fascinating to look at such sites and identify the techniques by which they choose to influence the reader and viewer. Will be the headlines sensationalized? Do all them have a tendency to point in one direction? Most of all, are the stories even newsworthy or are they attempting to manufacture controversy?