Media Bias

One problem that plagues us every day without us even realizing it is media bias. We see it in the news. We see it on our favorite sitcoms. We read it every day in the paper. Yet, we really don't recognize it when we hear it or see it. Media bias is evident in every aspect of the media, yet the problem is that we don't even recognize it when it is right in front of our faces. The problem is not only that there is media bias present, but also that we can't recognize it when we see it. Media bias is the tendency for the media to represent different people in a particular way based on their own views, the views of their sponsors, and possibly the views of society. Media bias could be blatant, but usually it is subtle. It can be expressed in the content of television shows. It can be expressed in the choices of types of stories that they show on the news. It can be expressed in the language used on shows, and that is written in the newspaper and magazines. Media bias is any stereotype set forth by the media that portrays individuals to society in a certain way. Media bias doesn't even have to be a negative portrayal, but more of an inaccurate portrayal of people that helps aid to the ignorance of individuals in society. According to fairpress.org, Media bias is the bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered, rather than the perspective of an individual journalist or article. The most common type of media bias focuses on issues of a conservative/liberal balance in the media. To me, the news stations on television are widely separated between conservative and liberal. Elections serve to highlight the many forms of bias in the supposedly neutral news media. Your opinions of democrats and republicans will be largely impacted directly from which news program you watch. It is important that we recognize bias so that we are able to gain information from the media while understanding its limitations. One of the easiest ways to detect bias is to read many sources of news. When you do this you get more facts and can easily cross check them with each other. When you find missing facts you know that you have found a possible case of media bias. Even if what you find is not media bias it will still provide you with useful information. The first step in challenging biased news coverage is documenting bias and here are some questions to ask yourself about newspaper, TV and radio news: Who are the sources? Is there a lack of diversity? From whose point of view is the news reported? Are there double standards? Do stereotypes skew coverage? What are the unchallenged assumptions? Is there a lack of context? Do the headlines and stories match? And lastly, Are stories on important issues featured prominently? Answering these questions will help identify the bias in media and hopefully help you develop a neautral standpoint. In order to prevent media bias, members of the media need to realize the negative effects that media bias can have. They need to make real efforst to prevent bias. Some efforts they have done thus far are creating the journalistic codes of ethics, and diversifying the newsroom. Many media organizations have codes of ethics meant to guide member's actions in order to allow for coverage that is in the public's best interest. Breaking the code of an organization usually results in punishment of some type, sometimes including having membership discontinued. Diversifying the newsroom will allow a larger range of opinions to be reported. However, newsroom’s need to be a place in which all employees contribute their full potential, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability or other defining characteristic. The media is an integral part of our life, yet it can cloud our decisions because of the bias that often is a part of the media. However, it is important that the public does not discount the importance of media simply because there are some instances of bias. The media is the best source of information for the majority of the public and it is in the public's best interest to continue using the media to collect information while maintaining awareness of its possible bias.