Additional Readings
Banks, R. R. & Ford, R. T. (2009). (How) does unconscious bias matter: Law, politics, and racial
inequality. Emory Law Journal, 58(5), 1053-1122.
This article also discusses unconscious bias and examines how this mental state is
obstructing what should be society’s priority; reforming policies. The author
asserts that individuals and larger society are preoccupied with unconscious bias
and more readily accept it as part of racial justice movements. The unconscious
bias only confirms the existence of racial relations and problems within society.
Bigelow, M. (2008). Somalia adolescents’ negotiations of religious and racial bias in and out of
school. Theory into Practice, 47, 27-34.
This article investigates the perceptions and attitudes of Somali immigrants not
found in the media. Suggestions are given as to how educators can include
Muslim students in the classroom and use discussions of race and religion to
better understand the harmful effects of racial bias and discrimination.
Burton, L. (2006). Getting started: Media education in the early years. Screen Education, 44,
90-96.
This article examines the importance of fostering critical viewing skills in
children at an early age in order to develop awareness about the effects of media.
The author encourages parents, educators, and adults alike to listen to children’s
interpretations of television programs and use television as a common point of
reference to discuss controversial and sensitive subjects.
Figdor, C. (2010). Objectivity in the news: Finding a way forward. Journal of Mass Media
Ethics, 25(1), 19-33.
Contrary to other research this article explores the possibility of objectivity in the
news by suggesting that media students need to focus more attention on critical
thinking as opposed to literary skills. News journalism is practical epistemology
and as such students of journalism must learn how to generate and critically
assess stories.
Glessner, M., Hoover, J. H., Hazlett, L. A. (2006). The portrayal of overweight in adolescent
fiction. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 15(2), 116-123.
This study was geared towards investigating whether adolescent literature existed
that provided an accurate representation of young adults in today’s world and the
problems they face. 12 books were analyzed and it was found that the realistic
portrayal of problems encountered by young people, namely obesity were evident
within the stories.
Gorham, B. W. (2006). News media’s relationship with stereotyping: The linguistic intergroup
bias in response to crime news. Journal of Communication, 56, 289-308.
This article examines linguistic intergroup bias in the context of interactions to
race-related television shows and news stories. It investigates the complex and
subtle ways that the media is used to differentiate between different groups of
people. Findings from this study demonstrate that people systematically tend to
favour the in-group (or their) group over the out-group in their thought processes.
Moellar, S. (2006). “Regarding the pain of others”: Media, bias, and the coverage of
international disasters. Journal of International Affairs, 59(2), 173-196.
This article investigates the inequitable media coverage of global disasters and
seeks to discover what persuades broadcasting corporations to highlight certain
stories while neglecting others. During 2005 Hurricane Katrina, the tensions in
Iraq, elections, suicide bombings, and the death of Pope John Paul II dominated
American news coverage.
Moule, J. (2009). Understanding unconscious bias and unintentional racism. Phi Delta
Kappan,90(5), 320-326.
Moule investigates unintentional racism and maintains that in order to move
forward we must acknowledge our biases and address them head on. The focus
for individuals and society should be on examining biases rather than fostering
tolerance and feeling proud of pseudo advancements in multicultural endeavors.
The author also explains that bias is rooted in the innate survival mechanism
referred to as the “flight or fight” response and suggests that human beings enact
this mechanism when approached by a stranger or strange situation. If bias is
innately a part of human behaviour the only way to move forward is to address
these preconceived ideas and analyze them.
Rajput, T. (2009). Questioning your collection. Knowledge Quest, 38(1), 63-70.
This article provides methods by which educators can assist children in critically
analyzing and interpreting texts and the connotations behind certain texts, stories,
and characters. It also encourages educators to analyze their collections and use
them in a way that teaches children about bias within books, stories, and so on.
Zeece, P. (1997). Books for Children: Books, bias, and best practice: Early Childhood
Education Journal, 24(3), 173-177.
This article focuses on examining bias within literary materials and more
specifically children’s books. The author provides criteria for evaluating and
selecting quality, anti-bias, intercultural children’s literature. The author also
maintains that an intergroup or transformation approach, which is characterized
by a fundamental change in goals, structures, and perspectives, should be taken in
schools to reduce bias within children’s literature and the curriculum.