Identifying media bias

The Instagram page of a news network publishes a reel where the journalist is reporting on a natural disaster, detailing what they have witnessed as well as their personal experience as a resident of the affected area.

What could this report be accused of?

• Bad news bias

• Glory bias

• Temporal bias

• Narrative bias

• Commercial bias

Police have been accused of brutality, resulting in a teenager being hospitalised with a concussion.
Reporting by a local newspaper states "It is not yet known what crime was committed by the tall, muscular youth before being apprehended by police."

What could this report be accused of?

• Bad news bias

• Glory bias

• Temporal bias

• Narrative bias

• Commercial bias

The three headlines visible above the fold of a national newspaper are:
"Leadership Change Spells Eskom Doom"
"Rising Crime Plagues South African Communities"
"Xenophobic Attacks Sweep Gauteng"

What could this newspaper be accused of?

• Bad news bias

• Glory bias

• Temporal bias

• Narrative bias

• Commercial bias

Eager to scoop competing news channels, a broadcaster opens the news segment with reports of a fire on Table Mountain which was sighted just 7 minutes before going live.

What could this report be accused of?

• Bad news bias

• Glory bias

• Temporal bias

• Narrative bias

• Commercial bias

A lifestyle magazine runs an article about planning for retirement.
An advert for Allan Gray appears at the bottom of the next page.

What could this magazine be accused of?

• Bad news bias

• Glory bias

• Temporal bias

• Narrative bias

• Commercial bias

Which of the following should a journalist avoid?

• Adjectives

• Generalisations without context

• Identifying any demographics of a story's subject

• Informal language