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Example of Media Bias:
The Democratic nominee’s response in the October 7th show was completely different and far more coherent than her rambling answer showcased in a preview clip released Sunday (10/6):
The controversy over CBS’ changing VP Harris’ answer has caused media insiders and critics to question the ethical standards at [CBS News].
“I think there should be an outside investigation,” one former CBS News journalist [said]. “Obviously, there’s a problem here. If they care about journalistic integrity, they would conduct an investigation or release the full transcript.”
A second CBS source said the discrepancy in the answers makes it seem that the network’s flagship show is “biased.”
“Their credibility has been called into question and their impartiality has been called into question,” the source said. “Don’t you need a full-throated review of what went wrong?”
Former CBS reporter Catherine Herridge, a veteran investigative journalist the network fired after she reported critically on Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings, noted that CBS released the full transcript of her interview with Trump four years ago.
“There is precedent,” Herridge said on X. “When I interviewed then President Trump in July 2020. @CBSNews we posted the interview transcript. This is more complete and NOT the same as a transcript of the edited TV report.”
“Full transcript = journalistic transparency,” Herridge said in a follow up post.
CBS has so far not commented on the calls to release the full transcript.
Releasing a full transcript would provide clarity about where Harris’ answer came from — but it also may raise more questions about the impartiality of “60 Minutes.”
To accurately identify different types of bias, you should be aware of the issues of the day, and the liberal and conservative perspectives on each issue.
Types of Media Bias:Questions
The Society of Professional Journalists notes in its Journalistic Code of Ethics:
- Ethical journalism means taking responsibility for one’s work and explaining one’s decisions to the public.
- Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. An ethical journalist acts with integrity.
- Never deliberately distort facts or context…
1. Define:
- ethics
- impartiality
- credibility
- transparency
- integrity
2. CBS has damaged the public’s trust in their organization by violating all of the above journalistic standards in distorting VP Harris’ answer. Should viewers stop watching CBS? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think CBS tried to make Harris’ answer look better than it was?
4. How can viewers be assured that Harris’ answers to other questions were not altered as well?
5. CBS has so far refused to release the full transcript of Harris’ interview with 60 Minutes. Why do you think this is so?
6. A Gallup Poll published this week found that fewer than 1 in 3 Americans trust the media to report the news fairly. The Gallup survey found that more U.S. adults have no trust at all in the media (36%) than trust it a great deal or fair amount; 33% of Americans express “not very much” confidence in the media. What can the media do to regain the public’s trust?
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the answers.
Answers
1. ethics – a set of moral principles; the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group (from Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
impartiality – not partial or biased: treating or affecting all equally (from Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
credibility – the fact that someone or something can be believed or trusted (dictionary .cambridge .org)
transparency – the quality of being done in an open way without secrets (dictionary .cambridge .org)
integrity – the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change (dictionary .cambridge .org)
#2-6: Opinion questions. Answers vary.
