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Identify Signs of Bias

Bias is when the creator of a source has a strong point of view that comes through in the source. It is important to know if a source is biased or if it tells both sides of a story. Let’s learn to look for bias.

Click through the slideshow below to learn about different ways a source might show bias.

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       Understanding Bias

Word Choice

Watch out for strong words that show judgement such as “evil” or “crooked.” These sources may not be telling all sides of the story. Think about other ways writers use words. Sometimes just one word can make a big difference in what a sentence means. Think about this example.

He walked out of the room.
He stomped out of the room.
He tiptoed out of the room.
He snuck out of the room.

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Image Choice

Remember that photographs or drawings are sometimes used to make a subject look good or bad. In this photograph, President Lyndon B. Johnson looks tired and overwhelmed. What does this source want you to think about Johnson?

Details

Try to determine if a source is telling the whole truth or only part of it. Ask yourself: Are all sides of the story being told? What details are missing?

Opinion pieces or Editorials

Opinion pieces and editorials look like news articles, but they actually share a specific person’s view about something.

Advertisements

Sometimes advertisements are disguised as news pieces. On modern news sites, look for the words “sponsored content” or “paid post.”



Analyze Headlines for Bias

The three headlines below are for the same story. Notice how different each one is. Two of them were made by a biased source. Which ones do you think are biased or unbiased?

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