Reference Librarian Manager and University Archivist
Joseph Coates
He/Him
Media Bias
Even typically reliable sources, whether mainstream or alternative, corporate or nonprofit, rely on particular media frames to report stories and select stories based on different notions of newsworthiness. The best thing to do in our contemporary media environment is to read/watch/listen widely and often, and to be critical of the sources we share and engage with on social media.
Here are some websites that can help you identify media bias.
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Fair.orgA national media watch group, offering well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship.
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All Sides Bias RatingsProvides readers a sense of the political leanings of the source
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Media Bias Fact CheckA comprehensive media bias resource.
Fake news in the news
- ABCNews: When Fake News Makes Real News HeadlineAbout a fake story which was treated as real news. Traces some of the pipeline for developing and distributing fake news
- The Atlantic: The Food Babe, Enemy of ChemicalsAn examination of claims made by The Food Babe, with pointed analysis by professor Kevin Folta of the University of Florida
- The Atlantic: The Rise of Progressive "Fake News"This interview with Snopes editor Brooke Binkowski examines the emotional pull of fake news
- BBC.com: How do Fake News Sites Make Money?An investigation into how profitable fake news can be.
- CNN: Fake News, Real Violence"Pizzagate" was a fake news story which connected a pizzeria with a child pornography ring allegedly run by Hillary Clinton and John Podesta. On Sunday, December 3, 2016, an armed shooter entered the pizzeria and fired a shot before being accosted by the police.
- Global Challenges: Inoculating the Public against Misinformation about Climate ChangeCovers a new theory about combating fake news known as "attitudinal inoculation" and follows two studies testing this method.
- New York Times: How Fake News Goes ViralFrom a single Tweeter with 35 friends to being shared over 400,000 times through various forums, this article traces a Tweet made November 9th, 2016.
- NPR: How to Tell Real News from Fake News in 'Post-Truth' EraThis article discusses "post-truth", the idea that all news outlets will fail you eventually and it's impossible to know who to trust. It provides some commonsense advice on what to look for in a news outlet.
- NPR: Students Have Dismaying Inability to Tell Fake News ApartMany students cannot tell fake news from real news.
- NPR: We Tracked Down a Fake-News CreatorAbout Jestin Coler, who began creating and distributing fake news in 2013.
- TED: How to tell fake news from real newsA brief selection of things to look for when determining the fakeness of news.
News outlet codes of ethics and standards
One of the ways in which a news source demonstrates its authenticity and responsibility to its readers is through a publicly accessible code of ethics or standards. A sample of various codes, mission statements and ethics handbooks are listed below.
- American Society of News Editors: Codes of EthicsA comprehensive list of codes of ethics from 47 different news outlets and professional organizations dedicated to journalism