Diversify your news sources to avoid heavy biases from the media

Thanks to the rise of “fake news” and commentators, it has become easier to blame or distrust the media for its so-called distortion of the truth, especially with news being so accessible through various platforms these days. The fact is, “the media” as a description for the whole is a blatant overgeneralization of our current media outlets.

When someone says “the media,” what type of media are they talking about? They may be referring to the radio, TV or newspapers. Perhaps they’re talking about one particular newspaper or all of them. They may even just be referring to FOX or NBC.

The lack of distinction has caused confusion to ripple out across our nation, and considering the biases some of these mediums contain, it has also furthered divisions among those of differing viewpoints.

Fortunately, there are ways to distinguish each medium carefully and avoid the influence of unsubtle media biases. First of all, in the world of communication, there is a slight difference between the terms “media” and “medium.”

While media, the plural of medium, has morphed into a word synonymous with mass media such as TV, newspapers and even reporters, medium is the term used for a newspaper, TV network, radio, or magazine. And so, “the media” isn’t necessarily a single mass organization taking charge of the news; it’s various outlets of communication.

To avoid the influence of heavy biases in the media, one must look into diversifying their news sources. Don’t trust news sources with leanings toward a particular ideology.

CNN and FOX, for example, are known for their biases. An example of this was when CNN shifted its coverage from the Hurricane Irma’s havoc to politics, attacking the president’s stance on climate change.

Trump’s inauguration speech was largely lauded by FOX News’ commentators, with one calling it “unifying” while another dubbed it “just masterful.”

The constant bias in the media makes it difficult to absorb news without another’s take on the matter.

Other news sources to steer clear from include websites like The Onion, which has garnered reputation for their satirical articles on current events, regardless if they’re real or fictional. For many people, Facebook is also a popular news source as the news feed usually shows a “diverse” number of articles and short videos on different topics.

The problem with Facebook as a news source though, is that it customizes your feed to the type of articles you prefer to look at, contributing to the bias that’s common in social media.

All in all, it’s essential that we educate ourselves on the differences between what constitutes as news or “fake news,” and avoid news sources that hold obvious biases that can influence us in negative ways.

Photo taken from Flickr.