How to spot media bias

People keep telling us that the media is biased, but if that is the case, there must be some warning signs. If there weren’t, how would they be able to say this with such confidence?

Often people say something is biased because it doesn’t align with their experiences, opinions or values however as we all know, this does not necessarily equate to bias.

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So what is bias?

Bias is the presentation of a one-sided point of view that fails to take into account any other perceptions or preferences and that can result in unfair outcomes or skewed results.

When you study for a journalism degree like https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk, you will learn that the media should always present a fair and unbiased report but you will also learn to spot signs of biased reporting so that you can challenge it.

You should assess the information presented based on your initial gut reaction to it as an article that elicits strong emotions is likely to be biased.

You should interrogate source information to determine the possibility of bias. Scholars and independent expert sources tend not to be biased, though those associated with a political party may demonstrate a positive bias towards them.

If a story is particularly vague and lacking in evidence, it is likely to be biased or based on conjecture and therefore cannot be judged as unbiased, fair or accurate. This is also the case if relevant evidence is not presented, if you are directed to a particular conclusion or if evidence is unclear.