Analysis of Bias Project

Focusing On:Detecting Bias/ Avoiding BiasExpository Writing from Many PerspectivesHot Button Science Issues

Product- You Will Create:

In class analysis of newscasts to evaluate for possible bias. (Sci class)

An article that looks at a controversial science topic from many perspectives without detectable bias. (LA class)

A method of presenting your article to your classmates (PowerPoint, Newscast, etc.). (Sci class)

Where This Comes From:

You have been working the last several years on writing persuasively from a particular perspective.

We have been working on expository writing in which you use a formal (scientific) voice to explain information.

NEXT- we’ll use these skills to combine them and tackle the difficult job of reporting on a controversial issue.

Multiple Perspectives

There are more than 2 sides to an issue. Let us consider the SIS gum debate as an

example. Mr. Strancke- all gum chewing is bad because it

leads to expensive messes. Mr. Clark gum chewing in choir is bad because it

interferes with your singing. Mrs. Steiner- gum chewing became bad when it

ended up all over my floor. Student A- gum chewing is good because it keeps

me awake. Student B- gum chewing is good because it keeps

the kid next to me from having bad breath. Student C- gum chewing helps me focus.

Multiple Perspectives

When you investigate your controversial issue- try to find as many perspectives as possible (A=6+, B=5, C=3-4, D=2).

Think about how each perspective would write a persuasive paper on the issue- what are the arguments of that side?

Acknowledge the complexity of the many perspectives.

Bias

Bias is a personal belief that influences how you look at an issue.

Everyone has bias.As a consumer of information it is

important to think about what biases might have influenced what you see.

As a reporter it is vital to acknowledge your own bias and look for other viewpoints which may differ from yours.

Detecting Bias in Other’s Work

We will look at several newscasts from different sources.

Watch/ listen for: How many/which perspectives does the

story look at?What bias does the story have? How can you tell?

Background for Sample News Story: (the facts that everyone agrees upon) NO NOTES NEEDED

6 Wal-Mart employees want to allow any other female employees to join their law suit that the company discriminates against women.

Having a group of people all sue together is called a “class-action law suit.”

To have a class action, a court must decide that it is a reasonable grouping.

The supreme court is deciding whether or not to allow the women to sue as one class.

Bias: A Humorous Example

From “The Daily Show” with John Stewart

Video

Neither I, nor the school endorse the opinions stated- we’re only looking for how bias is conveyed.

But Seriously…

Writing a good piece of journalistic news (and avoiding bias) is hard, very hard.

Let’s watch some professionals try and critique their work.

Background for real news stories: (the facts that everyone agrees upon) TAKE NOTES

The religion Islam teaches respect for the prophet Mohamed. This includes NEVER making any pictures/ statues etc. (no images).

Someone in California (details still fuzzy) posted on YouTube a “trailer” for a movie called “Innocence of Muslims” that shows Mohamed doing offensive things and accuses him of things like stealing children, sexually abusing them and selling them into slavery.

The video went viral. People all over the world are upset. In many countries

people are protesting. Some protests have become dangerous riots. American embassies in some countries have been overrun

by rioters and four Americans including an ambassador were killed in Libya.

Different Samples of Newscasts

From Fox News (Fox) Video

From CNN Video

From MSNBC Video

From PBS’ The News Hour Video

Where Does Bias Come From in a Newscast?

ReporterWriterProducerManagerAdvertisersConglomerateOwner

Who Owns Fox News?

Fox News is owned by the company News Corp (who also own 20th Century Fox, several Fox TV stations, National Geographic (TV), FX, The New York Post, the Wall Street Journal, several other international newspapers, several book publishers, MySpace, American Idol.com, etc.

Rupert Murdoch owns News Corp.Source: http://www.newscorp.com/index.html

Who Owns CNN (Cable News Network)?

CNN is owned by Time Warner who also owns: Time Warner books, Time Warner Cable, Road Runner, HBO, all CNN stations, Court TV, Warner Brothers, Castle Rock Media, Hanna-Barbara Cartoons, Time Magaize, Fortune Magazine, Money Magazine, Life Magazine, Sports Illustrated, People, Entertainment Weekly, several other magazines, AOL, ICQ, Mapquest, TBS, Cartoon Network, TNT, New Line Cinema, the Atlanta Braves, Netscape, and some of Amazon.com.

Jeff Bewkes is the current CEO of Timer Warner (Ted Turner was the owner of Turner Broadcasting and CNN until they merged with Time Warner).

Source: http://cjrarchives.org/tools/owners/timewarner.asp

Who Owns MSNBC?

MS NBC is a 50/50 partnership between Microsoft (the MS) and NBC (National Broadcasting Company)

Microsoft is owned by public shareholders but most shares are held by Bill Gates the Chairman and Steve Ballmer the CEO.

NBC is owned by Comcast Corporation who owns al the NBC channels, Telemundo, USA, SyFy, Bravo, Oxygen, Chiller, E!, MSNBC.com, Hulu, DailyCandy, Fandango, Universal Studios, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers, Wells Fargo Center, and is the country’s largest internet/phone/TV/wireless provider.

Stephen B. Burke is the CEO of NBCUniversal.Source: http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/management/senior-corporate-

executives/ and http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/exec/bod.aspx

Who Owns The News Hour with Jim Lehrer on PBS?

“Funding for PBS programs comes from a variety of sources - member stations' dues, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, government agencies, foundations, corporations and private citizens.”

Source: http://www.pbs.org/producers/funding.html

Look at the bottom of the screen during the newscast- “Sponsored in part by Pacific Life, Chevron, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting”

Expository Writing

When you write expository (informative) pieces it is vital that you:Choose sources carefullyAccurately cite your sourcesConsider possible bias and work to avoid itClarify the underlying facts that everyone

can agree uponName the speaker of opinions, if you don’t

say who said it, it sounds like you said it

Parameters for Project

Your final project should be about 2 typeset pages (double spaced).

Topic must be approved by Monday October 2nd.

Notes and outline due October 11.

Where To Start

You will have 4 work days in class to complete the research (note taking) and citations before they’re graded in Science.

Begin with notes using the format provided.

Notes

You must cite your sources as you find them. (At least 2 sources)

You’ll be citing the sources in your writing like in Language Arts

For each fact you must say which source it came from: for example, “Euthanasia is legal in Oregon, The Netherlands, and Belgium (source)”

Keep an accurate citation list.

Parenthetical Citations

You have been practicing parenthetical citations in LA class for writing about one source.

What did you put in parentheses?Now you’ll do citations for a paper with

many sources.The difference? You put the author AND

page number in parentheses (Steiner p.20).

Proven Topic Choices: (difficulty 1=easy, 10= hard)

Are Cell Phones Safe?- comparing the safety hazards of cell phones, especially in kids. (6)

Vaccines for Kids- Should kids be required to get vaccines? (6)

Euthanasia (or physician assisted suicide)- allowing doctors to help people with chronic diseases die. (4)

Vegetarianism- Should people avoid eating animal bi-products (especially meat) (5)

Nuclear Power- using radioactive substances to generate power. (8)

Alternative Energy- using alternative energy sources instead of fossil fuels. (6)

Ethanol Use- making fuel out of plant products such as corn. (9)