Reading: Identifying Bias in Media

What You Will Learn

You'll learn to recognize bias in media — those sneaky opinions reporters slip into "facts." By the end, you'll read news critically and understand when writers are trying to convince you rather than inform you.

Explanation (with real-life context)

Bias is when a writer favors one side and hides it behind language. It's everywhere: news articles, social media, even your friend's WhatsApp messages about politics.

There are three main types:

1. Word choice bias — The writer picks emotionally charged words instead of neutral ones.
- Neutral: "The government increased taxes."
- Biased: "The government unfairly burdened citizens with higher taxes."

2. Selection bias — The writer only shows facts that support their view and ignores contradicting evidence.
- A news site covers only protest failures, never protest successes.

3. Source bias — The writer quotes only people who agree with their position.
- An article about remote work only interviews people who love working from home.

Examples (natural sentences from daily life)

• "The controversial politician" vs. "The politician" — Already judging?
• "Despite limited resources, she succeeded" vs. "She succeeded" — This adds drama.
• A travel blog saying "This tiny coastal town is being ruined by tourists" (negative) vs. "This coastal town is developing rapidly" (neutral).

Common Mistakes

Thinking only "big media" has bias. Actually, a friend's Instagram post about their ex is also biased! Everyone has opinions.

Missing subtle bias. Sometimes adjectives like "allegedly," "surprisingly," or "unfortunately" slip bias in quietly.

Quick Tips

• Ask: Who wrote this? What's their background?
• Check: Where are the opposite viewpoints?
• Notice: What words have strong emotions?
• Read: Multiple sources on the same story.