A weapon in the battle against bias
If you’ve never heard of Patribotics or Infowars, consider yourself lucky.
According to the chart that appears on today’s front page, those two are, respectively (not respectfully), the least reliable news sources of left- and right-leaning propagandists. They are considered the lowliest of sources because they “contain inaccurate/fabricated info” comprising “nonsense damaging to public discourse.”
The Associated Press sits atop the chart throne as most accurate and most neutral news source, closely followed by Reuters, Bloomberg, NPR and C-Span. The Los Angeles Times is pegged as the top newspaper when it comes to original fact reporting, although it skews slightly left.
Welcome to the world of Vanessa Otero’s Media Bias Chart. The attorney from Denver puts in countless hours analyzing a universe of news content from a variety of sources, and what you see is the most current version of this constantly evolving guide.
As you peruse the chart, consider the accuracy and objectivity your favorite news sources strive to achieve on a regular basis. Because sources that originate news (not those who aggregate others’ work, like Google and Facebook) are comprised of human beings with bias being an innate frailty, nobody is going to prove perfectly objective or absolutely accurate. But as you consume information, ask yourself: Is a reasonable attempt being made to present both or multiple sides of this story? Do words or phrases smacking of bias sneak in? Does the headline hint at a slanted approach to what you’re about to read or view? How hard does this source work to ensure opinion and news reporting are clearly separated and accurately identified?
Another reason to share the Media Bias Chart is as a possible guide for inquiring young minds seeking the best sources of current event coverage. As Otero told The Press, she often hears from teachers who are helping their students think critically — an exercise that doesn’t happen in an echo chamber, where some readers seek “information” that supports their own views of the world. The farther left and right sources appear on her chart, the greater the likelihood the consumer is standing in an echo chamber.
We’re reminded of wisdom shared several years ago by constitutional scholar Dr. David Adler during his annual lecture in Coeur d’Alene. Adler said that for citizens to have the best understanding of what’s happening around them — information that will guide them toward good decisions — they should read several sources daily. The balance those sources provide could be the difference between complacency and enlightenment.