Today, countless websites and apps share news, changing not only how we get information but also how often we receive it. Even with more information available than ever before, this doesn’t mean we’re better informed.
In addition, the prominence of opinion journalism has risen over the years and is present everywhere from newspapers, to TV news programs, to social media. Opinion journalism presents their audience with an opinion and is meant to provoke a discussion or persuade their audience. However, news journalism has a different purpose. News journalism is meant to inform the public without trying to persuade the audience one way or another. So, how do you tell the difference, and how do you ensure that the news sources you are consuming are truly meant to inform and not persuade?
Look for clues
Many pieces of opinion journalism and sponsored content have clues to let us know that the article or video is meant to persuade rather than inform.
Opinion Journalism Clues:
- Look for labels like “Editorial” or “Opinion”, as these indicate the content is expressing a viewpoint.
- Pay attention to how many viewpoints are expressed since opinion journalism is meant to present one specific viewpoint.
- Evaluate the tone, the words and phrases used to describe the person, issue or event.
Sponsored Social Media Content:
- Recognize that many social media creators are paid to promote products and ideas.
- Watch for clues such as “#Ad”, “Advertisement”, “Paid Promotion”, or “Sponsored” to know if the content is influenced by a sponsor and does not necessarily reflect the opinions and values of the creator.
Consider bias as a spectrum
All news sources contain some level of bias. However, when we consider news to be on a spectrum of less biased to more biased, we can evaluate sources more effectively.
Responsible journalists who produce content with the intent of providing an impartial or unbiased view:
- get information from multiple credible sources.
- present the facts in a clear, fair, and accurate manner.
- create opportunities for subjects of their stories to respond to claims made about them.
- provide context when including quotes or video clips.
These sources would fall on the less biased end of the spectrum, and it is our responsibility as informed citizens to seek out these types of news sources.
Face your own bias
Our own bias can affect the way we read and view news sources. Sometimes, we consider a news source to be biased just because we do not agree with the information being presented. It is important to be aware of our own biases and to evaluate sources from a more impartial perspective.
Learn more about the different forms of bias
Understanding more about the types and forms of bias that exist in news media can help us be better at recognizing it. This Understanding Bias infographic from The News Literacy Project outlines the different types and forms of bias that we might encounter.
As we celebrate News Literacy Week, it’s important to note that we each have a responsibility to carefully evaluate the news we read and consider its source before sharing it. When we all start with the same set of facts, it becomes easier to find common ground. As the term “Fake News” is often used to dismiss reports that challenge personal views, it’s clear that we must be open to having our beliefs questioned as we pursue our own fact-finding journeys.
