An Example of Bias in the Media

Thanksgiving time: Anti-Trump media stuffing plates with overdone hate -Fox News

This article from Fox News showcases bias towards the conservative side with the purpose of invoking emotions such as anger among conservatives reading the article by describing "anti-Trump" aspects of the media. This purpose is made clear by the quotes "we could give thanks that the election of more than a week ago is mostly over. Or perhaps we could thank the media that things are back to their new normal – journalists attacking President Trump around the clock" and "
The New York Times even asked if the press should 'Boycott Trump.' Ever fair, the paper interviewed Democrats who hate Trump and Republicans who mostly hate Trump", which use aggressive language and hyperbole which serves no purpose other than to get a reaction out of people. The main types of bias showcased in this article were bias by spin and bias by omission. Bias by spin is perhaps the most obvious type of bias demonstrated by this article, as it often takes quotes out of context and does not legitimately showcase any arguments from the liberal perspective: "Politico reported a former Trump aide said the White House was 'like an episode of Maury.' 'The only thing that’s missing is a paternity test'." Bias by spin allows this article to be more aggressive in its arguments towards the conservative side, due to its lack of consideration of the left. This amplifies the emotional effect of this article, due to its arguments only 'going in one way', for lack of a better term. This also only allows readers of this article to see issues from one perspective: the conservative one. Bias by omission, while initially not quite as obvious as bias by spin, becomes almost equally as obvious when re-reading this article. The quote "There was an MSNBC regular warning that Trump might stage a military coup if he loses the 2020 election. Then there were allegations that the president, who has several Jewish family members, is somehow anti-Semitic" serves as a prime example of bias by omission, as these fairly serious claims against the President are not substantiated by any quotes at all, immediately calling into question their legitimacy. More generally, this article fails to mention actions by the President which may have inspired protest and "anti-Trump" sentiment. The omission of information which may support the opposing argument is ultimately harmful to this article's readers because it can convince them of an argument which may be, to some extent, false. Omission of information may also make it seem like this "anti-Trump" sentiment is largely baseless, which enhances the emotional reaction of the article's audience.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/thanksgiving-time-anti-trump-media-stuffing-plates-with-overdone-hate

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