Bias

Tools to help detect bias

The following tools can be used to research media organizations' accuracy, bias and their political positions:

Ad Fontes Media
Ad Fontes is the creator of the Media Bias Chart, which ranks news sources on two key dimensions: the accuracy of their factual and investigative reporting and their editorial bias, from left to right.

AllSides
AllSides assesses the political bias of prominent media outlets, and presents different versions of similar news stories from sources of the political right, left, and center, in a mission to show readers news outside their filter bubble.

Project Implicit
Project Implicit, a non-profit, explores hidden biases that shape perception, judgment, and action. They offer free Implicit Association Tests on topics like age, skin tone, gender, weight, and anxiety. These tools can spark discussions on challenging biases and help individuals become more mindful.

Bias - Personal, Search Engine, Social Media and News Organizations

Use this section of the guide to learn about the different types of bias, and explore why people sometimes maintain their beliefs in the face of contradictory information.

Image courtesy: The Decision Lab

What is Bias? Consider the following definitions:

Supporting or opposing a particular person or thing in an unfair way, because personal opinions have influenced your judgment (Cambridge English Dictionary)
A tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others, which often results in treating some people unfairly (Facing History & Ourselves Organization)

Is Bias Good or Bad?

Most people have a tendency to seek evidence that affirms their existing ideas and beliefs and to avoid or ignore information that contradicts them - particularly ideas and beliefs to which they have a strong emotional connection.

We're all susceptible to “reasoning in reverse” - in other words, we use our rational minds to come up with as much evidence as possible that confirms our existing emotions, ideas, and beliefs about a given subject. This is neither good or bad - it's what makes us human! However, being aware of own own biases is what is key - that way, we can learn to evaluate sources, arguments, and our own ideas more critically.

Search Engine and Social Media Bias
Social media and web search engine algorithms are deliberately opaque, often reinforcing existing biases. Unlike media outlets, whose editorial choices - such as published articles or aired segments - are visible and easily scrutinized for bias and impact, the decisions made by social media algorithms remain hidden. These algorithms distribute news in ways that are not immediately apparent and are challenging to investigate. Even those managing these platforms may be unaware of what has been disseminated until days or weeks later, highlighting the lack of transparency in how these tools shape information flow.

News Media Bias
Recognizing and evaluating news sources can be a contentious issue. People often have strong loyalties to their preferred outlets and may resist the idea that their trusted source could be unreliable. When fact-checking, it’s helpful to distinguish between two key activities:

News Gathering: The investigative work of calling sources, researching public documents, verifying facts, and publishing them.
News Analysis: The process of interpreting those facts and weaving them into a broader narrative.

Image courtesy: NewseumED

Additional takeaways
Consider the strategies for recognizing and minimizing bias in the video below OR by trying this interactive puzzle from the New York Times.