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Directions
-Read the excerpt below from the Aug. 12's "CyberAlert", found at MediaResearchCenter.org.
-Read "Types of Media Bias" in the right column. Then answer the questions.
To reach a record high, the price of a gallon of gas would have to exceed $3 a gallon and oil would need to go over $90 a barrel, yet the media continue to erroneously hype lower price points, such as $2.37 for gas, as “record highs.” On Thursday night, ABC anchor Bob Woodruff fallaciously cited “record high” gas and oil prices before Betsy Stark fretted that if “record” prices on home heating oil “comes on top of record gas prices, there will be lots of consumers with nothing left to spend after they’ve paid all those energy bills.” Woodruff spun the story into an indictment of the energy industry: “Oil companies and oil-producing countries are making massive profits while American consumers are really feeling it.”
To read the complete CyberAlert, click here.
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 might the media falsely report that gas prices are at a record high?
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the answers.
Answers
What is your opinion?
a. People writing the news don’t know a lot about economics and didn’t bother to research the issue.
b. The media know Americans are upset about such high gas prices and they can get good ratings by sensationalizing their reports.
c. Members of the media believe President Bush is responsible for the increase in gas prices and want to inform the public.
d. Or add your own answer.
Click here to read about why the price of a gallon of gas would have to exceed $3 a gallon and oil would need to go over $90 a barrel to reach a record high .
