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Bias in the News
Level(s): Grade 9 to 12 Overview This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version. To open the lesson kit for printing, . To print only this page, use the "printable version" link at the top of the page.
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This is the third of five lessons designed to teach students to think critically about the way aboriginal peoples and visible minorities are portrayed in the press.
"Bias in the News" begins by asking students to read the newspaper, searching for words they think imply a positive or negative judgment. After identifying these words or phrases, students will then look at their source (news story, column, editorial, review), and its significance. Students should gain an understanding of how bias can creep into even 'accurate' news stories, and improve their critical thinking skills in the process.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
recognize bias and value judgements in written work
understand the reasons why bias might occur in news reports
recognize the different ways in which bias can occur in news reporting
become aware of the ways in which ethnocultural minorities are represented in newspapers
Preparation and Materials Procedure Introduction:
Newspapers and reporters are supposed to provide their readers with objective, unbiased, and reliable information. To convey information fairly means letting the facts speak for themselves. Journalists know that the choice of a word or phrase can determine the context of an entire news story. However, bias does occur frequently — often unconsciously on the part of the reporter. Discussion: In order to give students an idea of how the choice of words and phrases can influence our perception of a news story, consider the following sentences: More than 900 people attended the event.
Fewer than 1,000 people showed up at the event. Both are accurate descriptions of the attendance at a meeting. The first gives the reader the impression that the event was successful, with more people than expected attending. The second sentence implies fewer people than expected showed up. A neutral way to describe the attendance would have been: "About 950 people attended the event." Activity Break the class back into small groups of three to four students.
Distribute copies of the newspapers (one per group) and have each group cut out the articles they think contain a value judgment. They should also highlight the word(s) and/or sentence(s) that they believe introduce a bias into the story, and answer the following questions:
Why do you think the words convey a value judgment?
Are these words or phrases found in a news story, a column, an editorial or a review? Why is this significant?
Have each group present its findings to the class, and compare and discuss each groups' conclusions.
Evaluation Extension Activity
For bonus marks, send students on a bias scavenger hunt. Give them one week to see if they can find current examples for each of the techniques listed in How to Detect Bias in the News.
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About the Author
This lesson has been adapted, with permission, from News Is Not Just Black and White, part of the Canadian Newspaper Association’s Newspapers in Education program. It has been updated with the financial assistance of Canadian Heritage, Multiculturalism Program..
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