Directions

-Read the excerpt below from the from June 27, 2005 CyberAlert found at MediaResearchCenter.org.
-Read "Types of Media Bias" in the right column. Then answer the questions.

Retired Major General Donald Shepperd toured the Guantanamo Bay detention facility on Friday and…in a phone interview from Cuba on CNN…Shepperd asserted: “The impressions that you’re getting from the media and from the various pronouncements being made by people who have not been here, in my opinion, are totally false.” Shepperd contended that “what we’re seeing is a modern prison system with dedicated people, interrogators and analysts that know what they are doing. And people being very, very well-treated.”

But when Shepperd reported that he had observed an interrogation, anchor Betty Nguyen inquired: “Kind of explain to us how that played out. And were there any instances of abuse or possible abuse?” Shepperd responded: “Absolutely not.”

For the entire transcript, click here.

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

Why do you think CNN anchor Betty Nguyen asked Shepperd if there were any instances of abuse or possible abuse when he had just said that detainees were being very, very well-treated?


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

Answers

(choose 1):
a. She was trying to conduct a good interview by asking the questions she thinks people want answered.
b. She believes that the U.S. military is abusing the detainees, and despite the eyewitness’ assurance that they are well-treated (the implication is all-around good treatment), she can’t help but ask again if he has observed any abuse
c. She doesn’t like the U.S. military and purposely tried to leave the audience with the abuse thought in their minds.
d. None of the above are correct – include your own answer.