How does your choice in news media factor how you view the world?

Tips for reading for bias

Read the whole article carefully. Reading every single word in a newspaper article can be super time consuming, but it’s worth it when you’re trying to find bias in the reporting. Biases can be really subtle and hard to catch, so pay careful attention to the entire article.

Look at the headline. Some people only read headlines, so they’re designed to communicate a clear point as quickly as possible. This means that using just a few words, most headlines make an argument. Evaluate each word to check whether they describe something positively or negatively. Ask yourself why the headline might not be totally neutral.

• For example, the headline "Hundreds Attend Peaceful Protest" tells a different story than "Angry Riot Confronts Police."

Ask yourself if the article helps or hurts anyone. Look at the words used to describe the people, political issues, and events mentioned in the article. If the language makes them sound good or bad, rather than just neutral, the reporter may be trying to influence you to favor one side over another.

Look for exaggerated or colorful language. Consider whether the words the reporter uses in the article are informational or emotional. Watch out any time that a word or description makes you feel a strong emotion. If overly descriptive words are used to represent a particular group of people or side of a debate, this could be an especially big red flag.

• For example, an informational description of a politician could look like this: “Senator Smith is originally from Connecticut and is thirty years old.” Check out how this description makes the same content emotional: “Senator Smith comes from a rich town in Connecticut and is just barely out of her twenties.”
• Look for words that reveal the reporter’s double standards. For example, one person might be described as "passionate and inspired" while another might be described as "stubborn and rash," even if both people are showing dedication to a particular cause.