Reader bias

Getting past
our own opinions

We all come to the news with preconceived notions. We may have strong liberal or conservative views, be influenced by our religious upbringing or our previous experiences with the news media. These and many other things color how we read or view the news that comes before us.

Our opinions about what is biased are based on what we think is right and wrong. We don't question our motives in how we perceive a story because we have trust in ourselves. We also tend to assume that most other people feel the same way we do. That's reinforced by our immediate friends, because people tend to associate with others who share their points of view. Researchers call this phenomenon the "looking glass effect."

Other research suggests that the stronger our opinions on a particular topic, the more likely we are to believe that news coverage is biased in favor of those who oppose our point of view. What's more, those who have moderate opinions about the issue will tend to consider the same coverage to be balanced. Researchers say that could be because people react more emotionally to news reporting of information with which they disagree.

To be effective news consumers, we must be as skeptical about how we perceive the news as we are about how a story is written and presented. If we ask for objectivity from those who bring us the news, we must also insist upon it for ourselves and we must understand the difference between neutrality, objectivity and subjectivity.

It's neutral that the president made an address to the nation. Objective that he outlined an economic plan he hopes will help the country and subjective whether the plan will accomplish that goal.

Reporters, editors and producers must meet journalistic standards for balance and objectivity in their reporting, but our responsibility as new consumers to be open-minded is just as critical. If we insist that the news be reported in ways that match our expectations, we rob ourselves of the chance to see the world from different perspectives and gain a greater understanding of the world around us.