Media Biases

Sensationalism/Emotionalism

• A style of writing that focuses on factual reporting without emotional influence.

• A technique that aims to present information in a shocking manner to evoke strong emotions.

• A method of storytelling that relies solely on logical reasoning and evidence.

• A form of communication that avoids any emotional appeal to the audience.

Opinions presented as facts

• A subjective statement that is based on the author's personal opinions, assumptions, beliefs, tastes, preferences, or interpretations.

• A statement that can be proven true or false through evidence.

• A universally accepted truth that does not vary from person to person.

• A claim that is supported by statistical data and research.

Unsubstantiated claims

• statements that are proven facts with evidence.

• statements that appear to be facts but do not include specific evidence.

• statements that are widely accepted without question.

• statements that are based on personal opinions.

Slant

• describes when journalists only tell part of the story in order to defend a specific argumentation. It usually serves a cause and/or political party

• a technique used by journalists to present facts without any bias

• a method of reporting that includes all sides of a story

• a style of writing that focuses on entertainment rather than information

Spin Bias

• The writer presents information in a neutral and objective manner.

• The writer will present information in a way that serves his/her argumentation. Usually, it involves vague, dramatic, or sensational language.

• The writer avoids using any emotional language to convey their message.

• The writer focuses solely on factual data without any interpretation.

Bias by omission

• choosing not to cover certain stories or omitting information that would support an alternative viewpoint.

• including all relevant information to provide a balanced perspective.

• focusing solely on sensational stories to attract attention.

• reporting only the viewpoints of the majority without considering minority opinions.

Mudslinging/Ad Hominem

• attacks on the motive or character of a person; unjust or insulting things are said about someone to harm their reputation.

• a logical fallacy that involves an appeal to emotion rather than reason.

• a method of persuasion that relies on statistical evidence and facts.

• a technique used to build rapport with an audience by sharing personal stories.

Loaded Vocabulary

• words and phrases with strong connotations to influence readers.

• neutral words that have no emotional impact.

• technical jargon used in specific fields.

• simple words that are easy to understand.

Faulty Logic

• a means of distorting people's opinions or arriving at conclusions that are not justified by the evidence provided.

• a method of logical reasoning that guarantees true conclusions.

• a technique used to enhance persuasive arguments without evidence.

• a strategy for analyzing data to reach valid conclusions.

Mind Reading

• A belief that one can read another person's thoughts accurately.

• An assumption that one's perspective is the only valid viewpoint.

• When a writer assumes that he knows what another person is thinking or believes that the way he sees the world reflects how the world actually is.

• The ability to understand emotions without verbal communication.