Product Overview
Journalists go out of their way to avoid purposeful bias in the news. But there is a more pervasive set of internal biases and flaws in thinking that can lead to unintentional inaccuracies and distortions in news coverage. This engaging book offers a fresh take on reporting without bias, targeting the way that we categorize people, filter information and default to rehearsed ways of thinking.
Included throughout are stories and on-target advice from reporters and editors, providing real-world voices and experiences. This advice and guidance is coupled with practical exercises that give readers the chance to apply what they learn.
Overcoming Bias will teach readers to edit their thinking for habitual errors, making them more perceptive journalists. It provides a career-long foundation for challenging bias.
This is an ideal text for a course on multi-cultural reporting or journalism ethics; it may also be used as a supplement in any course on reporting and writing, as each chapter deals with potential biases that emerge at each stage of the story process, from story ideas to editing.
From the Preface
This book explores biases in the way that humans think, the way that we naturally and instinctively categorize people, filter information, ration our attention, rely on cultural norms and default to rehearsed ways of thinking. These biases affect journalism at every stage of the reporting and writing process. . . .
Journalists need to know the biases they bring to a reporting situation in order to prohibit them from distorting news accounts and to serve their increasingly diversified audiences. This book provides specific advice, strategies and detailed knowledge so journalists can embrace a more inclusive and open-minded approach to covering a multicultural society.
Features of the Book
Learning Objectives preview the important concepts of each chapter.
Pause & Consider boxes prompt reflection and discussion of substantive material.
On Assignment Features spotlight stories and interviews with professional reporters
Exploration Exercises offer extended opportunities for readers to put ideas into practice, with additional real-life examples and writing ideas.
For Review Sections help readers remember what they ve read by answering questions and discussing topics with peers.
Appendices contain excerpts from news stories to better illustrate key points.
A companion website provides additional applications of the principles outlined in the book, as well as news and updates, links to articles, additional professional perspectives and interactive exercises.
