The document discusses different types of bias that can be present in written works. It notes that bias is difficult to define but can come from personal views and eschew understanding. Various types of bias are explored, including word choice, sources used, omission of information, limiting debate, story framing, and claims of objectivity. The document advocates understanding different types of bias to recognize false persuasion and see what agendas may be promoted.

1. BIAS
What is “unsaid” in what you read.

2. BIAS: FACTS
Bias is not SIMPLY political correctness.
Bias is rooted in personal views.
Bias eschews our understanding.
Bias is REALLY hard to nail down.

3. BIAS: FACTS
Bias is a fact but not factual!
Bias should be avoided but not all can be!
Bias is REALLY hard to nail down.

4. WHY ARE WRITERS
Bias ESCHEWS the meaning.
Bias is used in persuasion
Bias is used to promote an agenda (a set
of beliefs).
Bias makes money!

5. WHY UNDERSTAND
To uncover, at times, the real story.
To understand false persuasion
To see agendas that are being promoted
Basically, get the real story so as to make
up your own mind

6. BIAS TYPES
Word Choice Sources
Informational Objectivity
Omission
Institutional
Limiting Debate
Politics
Story Faming
Economics

7. WORD CHOICE
Meaning is more than individual words
Word choice sets the tone of a sentence
Words are used to frame a view
Words are used to pander to an audience
Happens in Title and article

8. WORD CHOICE:
The New York Times
3/11/2003
Iraq forces suspension of U.S. surveillance flights
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -Iraqi fighter jets
threatened two American U-2 surveillance planes, forcing
them to return to abort their mission and return to base,
senior U.S. officials said Tuesday.

9. WORD CHOICE:
USA Today
3/11/2003
WASHINGTON (AP)-U.N. arms inspectors said Tuesday
they had withdrawn two U-2 reconnaissance planes over
Iraq for safety reasons after Baghdad complained both
aircraft were in the air simultaneously.

10. WORD CHOICE:
Pirates v.s. Reds Sunday
“Pirates last home game finishes in a loss”
Post-Gazzete.com: it was buried at the bottom of the sports articles
“Reds down Pirates to get Dontrelle Willis his first
win as a Red”
cincinnati.com lead story in sports
Is this bad? No but it is pandering to an audience. IT
MAKES MONEY!

11. WORD CHOICE:
Lastly, our choice of words tell readers what to
think
During the early 2000’s the war occurred in Iraq
which what do these make you think:
War on Iraq - US Lead Coalition Forces
War in Iraq - US Lead Invasion Forces
These subtle differences are very important

12. INFORMATIONAL
Toughest to catch
Requires some
research
Question to ask:
What is being
covered?
What is not being
covered?

13. OMISSION BIAS
Things Don’t add up
The writing seems to be mission
something
we say it is “full of holes”
Easily done with statistics; rarely do we
hear the exact questions!

14. LIMITING DEBATE
What version of a story is given?
What is the source?
Is the story researched?
Has the author questioned the source?
One side is presented which is negative of the
other
The goal is to limit or eliminate descent

15. STORY FRAMING
A “frame” is a structure
that guide article
creation
Guides: what goes what
stays
Normal and needed
Often in Title

16. COMMON FRAMES
Conflict
Consensus emphasizes agreement of groups
Reaction how people react to issue
Wrongdoing exposed corruption; injustice
Straight news account who; what; when; where;
why?

17. FRAME QUESTIONS
What is the frame? How would the story be different
with another frame?
Why choose this frame? Does the story fit it?
What is said about the story due to the frame?
HTC fighting Apple but Staying Strong
Bu!ying in the Handset Market: Apple attacking HTC

18. SELECTING SOURCE(S)
Where does the author get their information?
How many sources are there? One? Two? Five?
Are the sources all from one area?
Are the sources from differing sides of the debate?
Are the sources valuable? Experts? Knowledgeable?
Connected?

19. SELECTING SOURCE(S)
Where are the sources coming from?
Business? Government? Education? Public?
Private?
Where they come from tells you who is dictating
the news or information.
Are blogs good sources? Yes, if reputable.
(everyone blogs now!)

20. OBJECTIVITY
Lastly, is it objective and fair?
Are both sides being represented?
Is the author obvious pushing an
“agenda”?
“Agendas” defined are okay just call them
that!