Media Bias Project
AP Government
Critics from both the left and the right argue that the media are biased, that they favor a
particular political perspective. This project will investigate those charges.
Watch, read, or listen to at least six news stories from at least two of the following sources:

a television network news program (e.g., the CBS Evening News, CNN Newsroom
but not an interview program such as Jon Stewart or Fareed Zakaria GPS)

an NPR news broadcast (e.g., All Considered, Morning Edition),

a newspaper (e.g., the Detroit Free Press, New York Times), or

an on-line news source that collects stories from mainstream media outlets (e.g.,
news.yahoo.com) or an online version of a mainstream media outlet (e.g.,
washingtonpost.com or nytimes.com).
These stories can be from more than one day. They must be hard news (not sports or news about
car crashes and house fires, etc.).
Turn in the following:

Source and date of each story ___/5* 6
_____/30

Topic of each story with a Summary ____/5 *6
____/30

Assessment of each story—Does it fall into one of the patterns of media bias? [E.g., Yes,
#1—uses political labels with conservative politicians.] Does it meet any of the standards of
good journalism? [E.g., Yes, #2—presents more than one perspective.] ____/10 *6 ____/60
Example

CBS Evening News, 12/19/07

New report on the impact of global warming (Summarize in one paragraph)

Media bias—Yes, #1—uses political labels with conservative politicians
(Give an example of bias used)

Journalism standards—Yes, #2—presents more than one perspective (Give example of
each perspective)
PATTERNS OF MEDIA BIAS
1.
Using political labels, e.g., a conservative politician is labeled as such (conservative
Senator Sam Brownback) while a liberal politician is not (Oregon Senator Ron Wyden).
2.
Using loaded language, e.g., a conservative proposal is labeled a scheme while a liberal
proposal is labeled a plan.
3.
Using attractive examples to generate sympathy for a liberal position, e.g., in a story on
homelessness, using a clean, hardworking white family with children rather than a mentally
ill drug user to illustrate the story.
4.
Using exaggeration to generate sympathy for a conservative position, e.g., in a story on
AIDS, focusing on homosexual AIDS victims who inject drugs. In today’s world, many
people from all types of backgrounds have AIDS.
5.
Adhering to liberal standards of political correctness, e.g., in a story on an Alabama prison,
using film of both white and black prisoners even though most prisoners in that prison were
black.
The central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with accurate and reliable
information they need to function in a free society.
1. Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth
Democracy depends on citizens having reliable, accurate facts put in a meaningful context.
Journalists try to convey a fair and reliable account of the meaning of those facts.
2. Its essence is a discipline of verification.
Seeking out multiple witnesses, disclosing as much as possible about sources, or asking
various sides for comment all signal such standards.
3. It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
Journalism has an unusual capacity to serve as watchdog over those whose power and
position most affect citizens. The Founders recognized this to be a rampart against despotism
when they ensured an independent press.
4. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
The discussion of public issues serves society best when it is informed by facts rather than
prejudice and supposition. It also should strive to fairly represent the varied viewpoints and
interests in society, and to place them in context rather than highlight only the conflicting
fringes of debate.
5. It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.
Inflating events for sensation, neglecting others, stereotyping or being disproportionately
negative all make a less reliable map for citizens to navigate society.