Day 2 - Objectivity and Perception

Objective (not biased):

• synonyms - fair , balanced, accurate , impartial,
• neutral - free of emotional attachment
• just the facts

Subjective (biased):

• Assumptions
• Only one side of the story is told

How do you asses if the news that you are watching is biased?

• Examine Sources
  
  • How many sources did they use?
  • Who did they talk too , who did they not talk too?
  
  
• Look at reporters facial expressions and tone?
  
  • Tone is hard to quantify.
  • Some times language can be neutral but the tone can reveal the bias.
  
  
• Analyze the language
  
  • Look at the adjectives
  
  
• Look at the Pictures
  
  • Sometimes the prettiest pictures are not what is the most newsworthy
  
  
• Look at how marginal vs mainstream is portrayed
• Are we relying to much on “official sources”
  
  • Just because they have a PHD doesn’t mean they know anything about the subject

How Journalists reporting could be affected?

• Gender
• Religion
• Socioeconomic status
• Race
• Sexual Orientation
• Age
• Personal Background
• Education
• Political Views
• Financial Interests

Types of Bias

• Political / Ideological
• Racial
• Ethnocentrism - your culture is always right and is always superior to other cultures
• Structural Media Bias
  
  • The environment prevents spontaneity
  • People get used to the way things happen
  • Because of TV things are easier if things are the same day in and day ou
• Good Video / Audio Bias - if its not really news just funny or interesting
• Need to get ratings bias

Movie: OutFoxed

• Talking about subjectivity in news
• About FOX news network
• Has the potential to reach 3.7 billion people / thats only reach, not viewership
• Memos from the top tell people how to prepare news for the day