Title: How To Detect Bias In News Media — FAIR
Headings: How To Detect Bias In News Media
How To Detect Bias In News Media
Who are the sources?
Is there a lack of diversity?
From whose point of view is the news reported?
Are there double standards?
Do stereotypes skew coverage?
What are the unchallenged assumptions?
Is the language loaded?
Is there a lack of context?
Do the headlines and stories match?
Are stories on important issues featured prominently?

Content: How many producers, editors or decision-makers at news outlets are women, people of color or openly gay or lesbian? In order to fairly represent different communities, news outlets should have members of those communities in decision-making positions. How many of the experts these news outlets cite are women and people of color? FAIR’s 40-month survey of Nightline found its U.S. guests to be 92 percent white and 89 percent male. A similar survey of PBS’s NewsHour found its guestlist was 90 percent white and 87 percent male. Demand that the media you consume reflect the diversity of the public they serve. Call or write media outlets every time you see an all-male or all-white panel of experts discussing issues that affect women and people of color. From whose point of view is the news reported? Political coverage often focuses on how issues affect politicians or corporate executives rather than those directly affected by the issue. For example, many stories on parental notification of abortion emphasized the “tough choice” confronting male politicians while quoting no women under 18–those with the most at stake in the debate.