Protest or Riot: How Headlines Skew Perspectives
June 8, 2020
Since the killing of George Floyd on May 25 by police in Minneapolis, the country has erupted in waves of protest and police action. News coverage has followed every step, but where you get your news likely has an impact on how you interpret events. Even the subtlest of word choices by journalists can be the difference between a protest and a riot, tear gas and smoke canisters, and a murder or a death. The media holds a lot of responsibility for which direction the conversation proceeds moving forward, as their words have an outsized influence on public opinion.
When It Comes to Getting Credible Coronavirus News, Political Bias Matters
May 18, 2020
During the Covid-19 pandemic, opinionated or poorly researched stories have allowed for selective framing of data and contributed to a public discourse that is increasingly divided and partisan over the reality of the virus. More than ever the public needs scientific facts and expertise to stand above partisan rhetoric and opinion.