Article by Shriya Chowdavarapu, TPT Staff Writer

Growing up, I witnessed bias impact many people’s lives. A phrase I heard constantly growing up was, “I need a strong boy to help me move this…” I, a female, could have moved that table/chair or anything that a male in my class could have. Nonetheless, I was seen as weaker because I was a woman - a stereotype that was often cast against women as a whole. From a young age, something like gender affected the opportunities I got because people tended to be more biased towards the men around me.

Bias manifests in many ways, and can range from small microaggressions to huge instances that are more impactful. First off, what even is bias? On the most basic level, bias is the preference of one person, group, or object. It’s almost impossible to escape bias, as it is hard to form your own opinion or make a decision without others’ input or the tendency to favor one thing over another. The dangers of bias come to light when used against people based on unchanging biological factors, like race or gender. A white man will tend to get better opportunities than a woman of color. This is because people tend to be biased in favor of the white males. They see them as strong responsible leaders and the women of color as weak and not as responsible. They both could have the same skill set and identical resumes, but the white man will get that opportunity because of his skin color and gender. People have brought the stereotype that white males are leaders, responsible, and that no one can compare up to them, which is why every other person will be undermined the second that a white male comes in the picture for any opportunity.

Recently, bias has become more prevalent in news media, where reporters show preference for political figures or ideas often under the guise of 'hard, reliable news.' CBS is more liberally biased, for example, while Fox News is more conservatively biased, framing political news in such a way that prioritizes their values or the reputation of a particular party’s leaders.

Media bias can affect the opinion that citizens themselves form on a certain topic. An article on one website compared to one on another website about the same topic can have two completely distinct ideas and takes on the story. Both are still getting the point across and telling the story, but from their own side. A Gallup and Knight Foundation poll says that about 46% of Americans do believe that there is media bias all over the internet. Knowable magazine talks about how without even realizing it, people tend to read articles that are already aligned with their views, so they end up becoming more firm in their existing opinions.

There are different types of tactics that articles use to convey bias. Some examples include omission, spin, labeling, placement, etc. Recently there has been some buzz around the media due to the release of conflicting articles about the current and former presidents having in their possession classified documents. Right-leaning sources will be on the former president's side and justify his possession of these documents while admonishing President Biden, while left-leaning sources take the reverse stance. In both cases, bias is visible and you can see from a couple of new articles who supports who.

You might be wondering what you should do to navigate media bias and ensure you are only reading the facts. AllSides is a great website that allows you to see what news platforms are biased towards or against what side. It tells you what news platforms are liberally biased and conservatively biased. Another great source is actually an app you can download on your phone right now! It is called Ground News. This app shows you many articles on a given topic and which articles areleft- or right- leaning, as well as showing you what articles are more neutral and just give you a summary with no bias. You can never completely get rid of media bias, but being aware of it and tracking the sources you use is a great start!

The views articulated in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the official stances of The Progressive Teen or High School Democrats of America.

The Impact of Bias in Media