StudentNewsDaily.com

WaPo Promotes Cuban ‘Election’ Fiction in News Brief

Wednesday's Biased Item - December 5, 2007

Directions

• If possible, print the article before reading.
• As you read, circle or underline the names of people, organizations and important facts.
• Use your own words to answer the questions in complete sentences.

Excerpt

INSTRUCTIONS: 
Read the excerpt below from Ken Shepherd's Dec. 3 NewsBusters.org post.   Scroll down and read "Types of Media Bias."  Then answer the questions. 

QUESTIONS:  
1.  What type of bias is this excerpt an example of? (scroll down to the bottom of the page for the answer)
2.  Do you agree with Ken Shepherd's assertion that "The Post...could have reworked the wording to more accurately reflect upon Castro as an ailing dictator who's never faced a free and fair election, not a beloved leader emotionally rent at the notion of leaving public service" ?  Explain your answer.

EXCERPT (from the NewsBusters.org post):
Add the Washington Post to the list of news agencies suspenseful over Fidel Castro's reelection to dictator. From the World in Brief digest on page A14 of the December 3 paper (emphasis mine):

In the first official indictation that he could remain Cuba's unchallenged leader, Fidel Castro was formally nominated Sunday as a candidate for the communist island's National Assembly, a requirement for continuing as president.

It remained unclear whether the ailing Castro would seek the post, but the nomination keeps his candidacy in play, providing a rare bit of suspense in a Cuban presidential election, analysts said...

While the Post culls its World in Brief feature from varying news wires, it could have reworked the wording to more accurately reflect upon Castro as an ailing dictator who's never faced a free and fair election, not a beloved leader emotionally rent at the notion of leaving public service. 

Go to NewsBusters.org for the original posting.

Types of Media Bias

Explanation of Media Bias

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER:
1. The excerpt is an example of bias by spin.