Media bias is when the press pushes a specific point of view instead of reporting objectively. It can be caused by wording, time limits, and sponsors. Failure to include various viewpoints may not be intentional, but some bias is quite evident, such as in programs like the 700 Club. Countries like China and Islamic countries control the media to sustain government control over people. News from other countries can provide a wider range of viewpoints and counter media bias.
Media bias is a perceived notion that the press has and is pushing a specific point of view, instead of reporting news or broadcasting programs objectively. This bias often refers to the media as a whole, such as a newspaper chain or a particular television or radio network, rather than individual journalists or television program authors.
It is nearly impossible for any news network or publication not to be accused of some bias. Subtle things like wording, time limits on programming, and sponsors can all suggest that the organization isn’t neutral. Each individual who reports or writes the news must also work hard to avoid revealing their opinions. These opinions can reveal biases simply through word choice or the inflections and tone of voice when delivering the news.
One form of media bias is the failure to include various viewpoints on a story. Often, this can be seen as not including the opposing viewpoint, but it would be virtually impossible to include all viewpoints on a particular issue, since people approach issues from more than two directions. For example, those who belong to fringe political parties such as the Libertarians or the Green Party often feel that their views are not adequately represented in journalism.
However, this failure to depict all sides of the story may not be an intentional bias. News may simply not have time to cover all viewpoints and may stick to classic “sides,” such as left and right, in an effort to curb media bias. Media can still be technically biased as it cannot represent all points of view.
Some media bias is quite evident. In fact, some stations or shows have been known to present the news in a way that clearly takes a definite stance. This is true of programs like the 700 Club, which interpret the news from a conservative Christian point of view. Some countries also have bias in their programming when the government controls the media.
In China, for example, some programs are allowed, some are not, and some stories can be written while others must be ignored. This is an attempt to control the way people think about the world, which helps sustain government control over people. Other countries also present the news in ways that lean toward a particular set of ideals. Several Islamic countries, for example, control the media and tilt it to glorify religious ideals. This is often the case with theocracies.
Another example of media bias that tends to occur in Islamic countries, and also in the United States, is the presentation of facts that show national versus international bias. In most cases, when key global issues are discussed during news presentations in the United States, these issues are typically discussed in terms of how they are perceived by Americans rather than how they are perceived by the world.
Many people find it quite interesting to watch news from countries other than their own, which are now widely available on various cable networks. These stories tend to differ markedly from those presented by mainstream US media, although they too may have some bias. An Irish news station could look into US decisions in relation to how this affects Ireland, for example. British news stations often have a more global outlook, but can still show some bias.
One of the benefits of global communication as it stands now is that people have access to a wide range of viewpoints. No matter where someone lives, they can probably read blogs from Sweden, listen to radio news from the Middle East, read Chinese newspapers or watch television criticizing their society. This access has a way of countering media bias because it allows people to examine the news for themselves, in a larger context. Some people prefer media that is upfront about their biases, however, because it presents them with information that reinforces their own opinions.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
