All media news sources contain some kind of bias because human b.docxADDY50
All media news sources contain some kind of bias because human beings all have different perspectives that are revealed in the ways they communicate. These biases may not simply be “liberal” or “conservative”; they may reflect other kinds of narrowed thinking.
Another reason that journalism of every ilk has become more explicit about their biases is that news sources now see themselves primarily as “businesses” rather than “news sources.” And the news often contains biases in order to attract a particular market or demographic.
We should begin to reflect critically on the multiple ways and strategies in which bias enters the news.
Your Task
1.
Watch
2 different news sources on the same day.
2.
Look
for the differences in coverage and how they might reflect their biases regarding the subject matter and stories.
o It will work best if you choose two sources that are known for their differences in approach (e.g., MSNBC & Fox News).
o It might also help to watch news sources that are known for expressing views that are radically different from your own; it’s always easier to spot bias in others.
3.
Give
detailed examples from the stories, utilizing concepts we discussed in class to help specify the types of bias you find in these news sources
o As this is a thought experiment or opinion paper, you will not need to conduct outside research aside from watching the two news programs.
.
The Responsibility of Independent Journalists in Covering Sensitive and Contr...EvanGilbertkatz
Independent journalists have a great responsibility for covering sensitive and controversial issues. From navigating controversial topics while maintaining objectivity to raising awareness and educating the public through investigative reporting,
While some of us know what a journalist does, it is fair to say that we have a role to play in the society we live in. There are nine principles that govern our job. Once we are aware of these principles, how do we get to writing a news story?
All media news sources contain some kind of bias because human b.docxADDY50
All media news sources contain some kind of bias because human beings all have different perspectives that are revealed in the ways they communicate. These biases may not simply be “liberal” or “conservative”; they may reflect other kinds of narrowed thinking.
Another reason that journalism of every ilk has become more explicit about their biases is that news sources now see themselves primarily as “businesses” rather than “news sources.” And the news often contains biases in order to attract a particular market or demographic.
We should begin to reflect critically on the multiple ways and strategies in which bias enters the news.
Your Task
1.
Watch
2 different news sources on the same day.
2.
Look
for the differences in coverage and how they might reflect their biases regarding the subject matter and stories.
o It will work best if you choose two sources that are known for their differences in approach (e.g., MSNBC & Fox News).
o It might also help to watch news sources that are known for expressing views that are radically different from your own; it’s always easier to spot bias in others.
3.
Give
detailed examples from the stories, utilizing concepts we discussed in class to help specify the types of bias you find in these news sources
o As this is a thought experiment or opinion paper, you will not need to conduct outside research aside from watching the two news programs.
.
The Responsibility of Independent Journalists in Covering Sensitive and Contr...EvanGilbertkatz
Independent journalists have a great responsibility for covering sensitive and controversial issues. From navigating controversial topics while maintaining objectivity to raising awareness and educating the public through investigative reporting,
While some of us know what a journalist does, it is fair to say that we have a role to play in the society we live in. There are nine principles that govern our job. Once we are aware of these principles, how do we get to writing a news story?
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
Students, digital devices and success - Andreas Schleicher - 27 May 2024..pptxEduSkills OECD
Andreas Schleicher presents at the OECD webinar ‘Digital devices in schools: detrimental distraction or secret to success?’ on 27 May 2024. The presentation was based on findings from PISA 2022 results and the webinar helped launch the PISA in Focus ‘Managing screen time: How to protect and equip students against distraction’ https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/managing-screen-time_7c225af4-en and the OECD Education Policy Perspective ‘Students, digital devices and success’ can be found here - https://oe.cd/il/5yV
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
Instructions for Submissions thorugh G- Classroom.pptxJheel Barad
This presentation provides a briefing on how to upload submissions and documents in Google Classroom. It was prepared as part of an orientation for new Sainik School in-service teacher trainees. As a training officer, my goal is to ensure that you are comfortable and proficient with this essential tool for managing assignments and fostering student engagement.
Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology:
Ethnobotany in herbal drug evaluation,
Impact of Ethnobotany in traditional medicine,
New development in herbals,
Bio-prospecting tools for drug discovery,
Role of Ethnopharmacology in drug evaluation,
Reverse Pharmacology.
Welcome to TechSoup New Member Orientation and Q&A (May 2024).pdfTechSoup
In this webinar you will learn how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
2. 1. Recognize that the goal of news reporting is to inform, and
the goals of journalism are to inform and persuade.
2. Some news outlets take a consistent position in both their
reporting and opinion. Others separate the two. At times,
especially on TV, the lines blur.
3. Well-done opinion journalism can give insight into complex
stories, open our eyes to new ways of looking at the world,
challenge our assumptions, and help us understand our own
points of view.
4. Pay attention to labels, language, and look for VIA, to tell
news and opinion apart, and to spot unsupported assertions.
17. The rise of advertising-supported
mass market news outlets brought:
The journalistic discipline of impartiality
The separation of news and opinion
The goal of serving readers from all
sides of the political spectrum
18. What’s the value of
opinion journalism?
1.Gives insight into complicated stories
2.Opens your eyes to new ways of looking at
the world
3.Challenges our assumptions
4.Helps us develop our own points of view
19. “Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not
misrepresent fact or context.”
“Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests …
(and) remain free of associations and activities that may
compromise integrity or damage credibility.”
“Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not
misrepresent fact or context.”
─ The Society of Professional
Journalists
VERIFICATION
INDEPENDENC
E
ACCOUNTABILIT
Y
Opinion journalism should be about VIA
41. Something that is stated positively, often
with no support or attempt at proof
42. Opinion journalism or assertion?
Daniel Patrick Moynihan,
former UN ambassador and
four-term U.S. senator
from New York
Everyone is entitled to
his own opinion,
but not his own facts.
Ask: What do you think of CNN? Fox News?
There’s a widespread assumption that CNN is anti-Trump, that it’s in the tank for the Democrats. That Fox News is pro-Trump, in the tank for the Republicans.
Show clip: After watching this, it’s hard to argue against the belief that CNN is biased.
CNN would never show a Democratic congresswoman booed and heckled with cries of “fake news” at her own town hall while she attempted to defend her support for a House impeachment inquiry, would it?
Play video. I guess it would.
Fox News is clearly in the tank for Trump, right?
Watch this interview on Fox & Friends, with Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. The hosts lob softball questions and agree with everything their guest says. Bias!
Fox would never have a guest, a legal analyst, assert that Trump has committed a crime! Would it?
Fox News would never conduct, and report on, a poll that finds that a majority of Americans favor the impeachment of Donald Trump? Would it?
The point here is not that CNN and Fox are great news outlets that you should follow regularly. That’s up to you. Certainly, cable news networks are terribly flawed, filled with empty talk, shouting, and sizzle over substance.
Two points: (1) Be careful of judging a news outlet based on what others have told you about it, or based on one example. Remember our discussion of bias last week: it’s a pattern of unfairness over time. (2) Often we base our determination on opinion journalism, which at some outlets is separate from news reporting. We should be critical news consumers, noting whether we’re consuming a news report or an opinion piece.
Our topic for today is the difference between news reporting and opinion journalism—and how you can tell them apart.
What’s the difference?
News reporting informs. Reporters provide facts and context.
Opinion is a VIEW, a JUDGMENT or an APPRAISAL about a particular matter. The goal of opinion is to persuade—the commentator wants you to agree with them.
News Literacy has a precise definition of bias – a pattern of unfairness found in a media outlet’s news coverage. So the suggestion that you can document a specific pattern of unfairness shared by every news outlet doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. We’re not saying bias doesn’t exist, only that the only intellectually honest way of establishing it would be to look at a specific news outlet’s coverage over a period of time.
Or by what its editorials or opinion journalism says.
A reputable news organization separates news from opinion – not only by labeling it, but by separating its news and opinion staffs.
When news outlets take sides with their journalism – if it is journalism that they provide – it’s often a business decision. Just like MSNBC, Mother Jones knows its audience and wants to keep those readers coming back for more.
This is from the FAQs section of Mother Jones.
https://www.motherjones.com/about/faq/#08
This explanation is a bit of a dodge. [CLICK] Take a look at the articles on the homepage. There’s a pattern evidence in this sample.
And let’s read laterally. Wikipedia notes that its political inclination is variously described as either “liberal or progressive.” The page cites a few sources to back up that characterization.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Jones_(magazine)#cite_note-3
Though The Daily Caller’s “about us” page does not indicate a bias, if you know anything about Tucker Carlson and Dick Cheney, former vice president and former employer of co-founder Neil Patel, the site’s POV is clear.
https://dailycaller.com/
Outlets such as Mother Jones and The Daily Caller (and others) are firmly grounded in history. The first newspapers were controlled by political parties, e.g., Alexander Hamilton founded the New York Post in 1801 as a conduit for Federalists’ attacks against their political enemies.
The journalistic discipline of impartiality is a comparatively modern development.
To maximize circulation and advertising revenue, newspapers and, later, broadcast news outlets decided the best strategy was to keep their politics on the editorial and opinion pages. Readers from all sides of the political spectrum were more likely to value and trust their journalism if it was kept separate from clearly labeled opinion journalism produced by a separate staff.
The point of those ethics guidelines is to preserve the essence of journalism: Verification…Independence…Accountability
If a person is trying to help you make up your mind, trying to foster democratic debate about how we govern ourselves, they fight fair.
They verify the facts they use to support an argument.
They aren’t allowed to pose as an opinion journalist if they are on the payroll of one interest group or another.
And they are accountable for their opinion, labeling it as opinion so that a viewer or reader is not misled into thinking it is reporting.
This slide shows how VIA fits in the ethics code for even an opinion journalist.
Look for verification. We should expect opinion journalists to support their arguments with evidence. They may not persuade us, but they at least should make a good-faith effort to persuade others with facts. In this opinion piece, the commentator cites an American Psychological Association study that links video games to aggressive behavior.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/samantha-nerove-why-so-many-mass-murders-study-impact-of-violent-video-games-and-impose-age-restrictions
Here’s a counterpoint, which argues that video games do not lead to violent behavior. A critical news consumer would compare the two arguments, perform additional research, and make up her mind based on the evidence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Eo3La0nA54
Even opinion journalists should be fair to the evidence.
For example, USA Today’s opinion section featured an op-ed by President Trump.
A little over a week later a regular opinion columnist accused Trump of being bought and sold by Saudi Arabia.
Opinion pages tend to lean either left or right, but still, they invite differing opinions.
Independence is different than neutrality.
While it’s near-impossible for a thinking human to be perfectly objective, even the most partisan opinion writer can be independent, if their paycheck comes from a news organization instead of one of the major partisan players.
If Nicole Wallace were on the payroll of the Republican Party, she might never ever be able to criticize the Republicans, as she often does on her MSNBC program.
And if Jamelle Bouie were on the payroll of the Democrats, rather than the New York Times, he would have a much harder time criticizing the Democrats, including Joe Biden, at one time the party’s frontrunner for the 2020 presidential nomination.
Both have a point of view, but both are paid to serve the audience, not a political party.
It’s often confusing to students who correctly cling to V.I.A. as the fundamental standards of journalism, yet encounter opinion journalists like Jamelle Bousie or Nicole Wallace who take a side.
An opinion journalist answers to the audience, the readers and not to one or the other of the political parties.
This is what we mean by independence, when it comes to opinion journalists.
There have been times, however, when commentators have held close relationships with political candidates. That is inappropriate, and consumers should be made aware.
David Sirota was still working as an opinion journalist as he transitioned to his new job in the Bernie Sanders campaign.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-bernie-sanders-supporter-and-journalist-had-a-secret-he-kept-from-his-readers/2019/03/20/063aabee-4b26-11e9-b79a-961983b7e0cd_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c53acb28de25
Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro, who are both outspoken Trump supporters on their shows, joined him on stage at a campaign rally in November 2018. An ethical journalist should avoid such associations and conflicts of interest.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-fox-news-hannity-trump-rally-20181105-story.html
Hannity, for his part, is not independent from Donald Trump. Hannity has said that he does not consider himself to be a journalist.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/09/20/fox_news_sean_hannity_literally_endorses_donald_trump_on_new_campaign_ad.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/22/business/media/sean-hannity-turns-adviser-in-the-service-of-donald-trump.html
http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/09/21/tonight-10-et-trump-talks-minority-outreach-hannity-town-hall
Another Fox host, Peter Hegseth of Fox & Friends, has taken at least $50,000 from GOP groups for fundraising help.
https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2019/01/23/gop-groups-have-paid-fox-news-host-pete-hegseth-over-50000-fundraising-help-recent-years/222605
ANIMATION: RED ARROW HIGHLIGHTS THE “OPINION” TAB
News on the web continues to evolve rapidly and in all directions at once, so these are very broad observations of the news-to-opinion spectrum on the Web:
CNN labels sections of its site by topic, including a tab that sends readers to the work of opinion writers.
Animation: labels appear one-by-one automatically.
Evidence-based, factually accurate Opinion Journalism makes it very confusing for a news consumer.
There are statistics and quotes from experts and the kind of verification that makes a news story reliable. It can seem like News Reporting.
But then the writer or commentator spouts off an opinion, or leaves out a fact or two in order to emphasize one facet of the argument.
BUT If they are committed to informing news consumers, news outlets are scrupulous about labeling. Remember that Code of Ethics. Clear labelling.
These are a few common labels.
(Lecturer can explain each)
ASK: WHY WOULD AN OUTLET NOT LABEL CLEARLY?
Other sites that are less traditional or feature more commentary than news often don’t bother to label opinion.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/cancel-billionaires/599587/
Reputable news channels label opinion as well – the label Fareed’s Take is designed to let you know the show’s host is switching to commentary.
So, here are you few rules of thumb for separating news and opinion on TV news.
Look for labels that identify who the journalists are …
Just as in the press, TV reporters generally do not take sides.
And just as a newspaper columnist or editorial writer has the license to express fact-based opinions and analysis, commentators do the same on TV. Listen to Cokie Roberts explain on NPR.
Here’s where it starts to get tricky. Many of the experts you see on cable TV news are not journalists and make no pretense of impartiality.
In fact, some of these experts are actually there to represent one side of the argument.
While sharp eyes will catch labels, a good ear can be just as important.
Listen to this clip.
News? Opinion? Both?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Kq4bZ8N5I
On the other hand, there’s assertion—unsupported assertions.
Opinion is a VIEW, a JUDGMENT or an APPRAISAL about a particular matter.
An assertion is something declared with no attempt at proof. I said it, so it’s true.
Ask: what’s the important difference?
So, who cares which is which?
Like reporters, opinion journalists are expected to stick to the facts.
But the goal of opinion journalists is to use what they’ve learned to provoke discussion by picking sides and arguing forcefully.
Opinion journalism is, by definition, one-sided.
I may be misled if I only hear one side of the situation.
Fact-free tirades that state an opinion without bothering to provide evidence for it. It’s reminiscent of Stephen Colbert’s notion of truthiness: the author or speaker states opinions they want to be true or wish to be true, rather than facts.
Bloviation is a word we use to refer to people spouting opinions without any factual support. There are less polite terms for this as well. Listen to these commentators discussing Hillary Clinton winning the Democratic nomination. Are the opinions you hear grounded in fact?
VIDEO: Jeff Bridges as the Big Lebowski saying, “that’s just your opinion, man.”
It’s an old clip, but It does the job.
Listen to Geraldo blame a hoodie on the death of Trayvon Martin. He produces no evidence to support this assertion.
This is bloviation. Bloviation is opinion that lacks the V(erification) in VIA. It describes fact-free tirades.
As we’ve discussed, we all have preferences, deeply held beliefs, and implicit biases. Our brains are wired to seek comfort and affirmation, not reliable information. We talked about cognitive dissonance—how we’re stressed by information that contradicts our beliefs—and how our brains cope with it (selective distortion and retention, source amnesia, confirmation bias).
Social media and search engines, which are based on algorithms, tend to feed our biases, entrap us in a “filter bubble” where we run the risk of living blinkered lives. It’s the irony of our age that we have access to more information than anyone in human history, and yet we consciously narrowcast, selecting to subscribe to or follow news we agree with, and search engines and social media tailor our results and feeds to what their algorithms think we want.
Algorithms tailor your feed to fit your interests, based on the way you label yourself and also based on your past activity on the social media platform. What you like, dislike, click on, share—this determines the kinds of content that will appear at the top of your feed. If you only like cat pictures on Facebook, Facebook will feed you a ton of content about cats.
More dangerous is that Facebook will reinforce your political beliefs, feeding you stories that match your politics and filtering out stories you’re likely to disagree with.
The Wall Street Journal has a feature called Blue Feed/Red Feed, pictured here, that contrasts the kinds of stories a liberal Facebook user will see with those a conservative will see, on the same subject.
http://graphics.wsj.com/blue-feed-red-feed/
How does this work? Google and Facebook and YouTube monitor your searches, your likes, your friends and they – in the name of service – deliver more and more customized ads and search. If you want to see how Facebook has categorized you, here’s how. You do, by the way, have the option of editing these “preferences” to break out of the bubble.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/24/us/politics/facebook-ads-politics.html
It’s important to recognize, as the Russian operatives no doubt did, that these efforts at manipulation could only take root because of the political polarization of the American electorate and the power of cognitive dissonance. During the campaign, BuzzFeed fact-checked a sampling of posts from hyper-partisan Facebook pages presenting themselves as news sites and found 20 percent of the left-wing reports were false and nearly twice as many right-wing offerings were untrue. Why were people so quick to believe and share them?
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/facebook-removed-conservative-liberal-pages-laura-ingraham
How does one go about creating a healthy, mixed news diet? Whether one is an avid news consumer or a casual one, there are ways we can improve our news consumption habits and sharpen our understanding of the news media.
You’ll keep up with the news, take weekly current-events quizzes, and engage with relevant examples every day. Ideally, you’ll apply News Literacy skills to find news outlets that you’ll follow regularly even after this class has ended.