Directions

-Read the excerpt below (from the AmericanThinker.com blog post of Feb. 12th).
-Read "Types of Media Bias" in the right column. Then answer the questions.

…two articles on the same story [have] radically different headlines.

The articles are on a Gallup poll asking the question whether Bush era policies in the war on terror should be investigated.

From Gallup:

No Mandate for Criminal Probes of Bush Administration


From USA Today:

Poll: Most want inquiry into anti-terror tactics

Huh?

Here are the numbers – you decide:

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The poll is skewed heavily to the left on the criminal investigation question because liberals, almost to a man, want to see Bush in jail. I find it interesting that a clear majority do not want criminal investigations – unexpected given all the rancid rhetoric from the left for 8 years.

Technically, both headlines are correct. But do you think there is any bias at USA Today when the poll shows a majority against criminal probes?

Read the original post at AmericanThinker.com.

Identifying Media Bias

To accurately identify different types of bias, you should be aware of the issues of the day, and the liberal and conservative perspectives on each issue.

Types of Media Bias:

Questions

Do you think that USA Today’s headline is misleading?  Explain your answer.


Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the answers.

Answers

1. Headlines can greatly influence readers’ opinions about the news. The importance of an accurate headline is that most people don’t read every word of every article; they often just skim the headlines. Therefore, those who read just a headline are not accurately informed when the headline misrepresents the story.

2. Opinion question. Answers vary.