BIAS IN THE MEDIA
1. Bias through placement: placing one article in a more
prominent place within the newspaper than another
2. Bias through the statistics: making the statistic sound “larger”
or more “alarming” than it really is
3. Bias through headline: using words in the headline that
make the reader feel negatively or positively towards the
event or the person
4. Bias by photo: portraying the person or event in a very
negative or very positive manner
5. Bias by words: portraying the information in either an overly
positive or an overly negative manner
Assignment:
Five types of Bias in the Media have been outlined above. Your task is to
find ONE EXAMPLE of Bias in the Media. As well, you must complete your
assignment electronically, so please use the internet to find articles or
newspapers on line.
You must include the following:
1. The article or picture that the bias occurred in.
2. The source of the article or picture (ie) Calgary Herald
3. A brief write up – of at least 5 sentences – that explains the type of bias
that has been demonstrated and the thoughts or emotion that
particular bias would invoke up in readers/viewers.
4. The assignment is due on Tuesday, October 23.
5. The assignment must be done electronically and emailed to me.
China court sentences drunk driver to death.
However, the article itself tells a very different story than this sensationalist and misleading
headline. It reveals that the 30-year-old man was, in fact, not condemned to death for the simple
act of driving while intoxicated:
He was reportedly drunk and speeding in the capital of Sichuan province last year when he
struck four other cars. Four people were killed and another person was seriously injured. He was
also driving without a license.
An example of ________________________________________________________
Edmonton Sun: “A serious situation occurred on October 11 at the Edmonton Airport. A hundred people were
injured in the air crash.”
Calgary Herald: “Minor injuries occurred in Edmonton on October 11, when the landing gear of an airplane failed to
drop at the proper time.”
**Fictitious Account**
An example of __________________________________________________________________________
Readers of papers judge first page stories to be more significant than those buried in the back. Television and radio
newscasts run the most important stories first and leave the less significant for later. So, where a story is placed can
influence the importance of it to a viewer.
An example of _________________________________________________________________________
An example of ____________________________________________
Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Bolton Wanderers
Wonderful Tottenham are triumphantly through to the fifth round of the magical FA Cup
after thrashing the clueless Bolton with ease.
Their scorching first goal came from the magnificent Darren Anderton who took a penalty
after an outrageous foul by the awful Mike Whitlow.
Other goals were from the graceful Steffen Iversen after just 35 minutes and Matthew
Etherington added to the party atmosphere after 56 minutes.
This was followed by a hilarious own goal from Bolton's Anthony Barness after 72 minutes.
An example of ___________________________________________________
BIAS IN THE MEDIA ASSIGNMENT
Develop skills of
critical/creative thinking
9.S.1

Determine the validity
of information based
upon bias

Find sources and
describe as to why
they are biased
BEGINNING
ACCEPTABLE
PROFICIENT
MASTERY
2
3
4
5
A brief
description
of why the
source
shows bias.
A brief
account is
given as to
the emotion
that this bias
may invoke.
An
adequate
description
of why the
sources
show bias.
An account
is given as to
the emotion
or thought
that this bias
would
invoke.
A detailed
description
of why the
sources
show bias.
A
comprehensive
and thorough
description of
why the
sources show
bias.
A detailed
account as
to what
emotion or
thought that
particular
bias would
invoke.
Insightful
account as to
what emotion
or thought that
particular bias
would invoke.