There is always going to be bias in the news because every writer has an opinion. The important thing when regarding a bias in journalism is to give each side of argument an equal voice. An article from the Winnipeg Free Press with the headline, "Will Vancouver Games be 'worst' ever?" leaves out bias even in its headline because it doesn't shove an opinion down the reader's throat. The Edmonton Journal's article, Olympic critics leave out facts, is a little more biased because it doesn't give the other side of the argument a voice. However, headlines are appropriately biased at times because they're intended to draw readers in. Both the Canadian news sites, Winnipeg Free Press and The Edmonton Journal, have the intentions of Canadian's behind them. Neither would like to write that they are, indeed, the worst olympics ever when Canadian moral is hoping to remain optimistic. However, Guardian.co.uk's article, Vancouver Games continue downhill slide from disaster to calamity, doesn't have to write to protect Canadian moral and writes about the transportation issues, questions the safety of the luge sliding tracks and discussing the loss of face of $400,000 in ticket revenue due to lack of snow. The two Canadian articles don't even discuss these facts. The Edmonton Journal article brings up the fact that there were other Olympics that suffered worse fates than Vancouver 2010. For example, from the Edmonton Journal article:
"But the worst Olympics in history? Worse, say, than the 1972 Munich Olympics, at which Black September terrorists murdered 11 Israeli athletes and coaches? Worse than the smoggy Atlanta Games of 1996, at which a pro-life, anti-gay terrorist ignited a pipe bomb, killing two and injuring 111? Worse than the Berlin Olympics of 1936, which Hitler perverted as a Nazi propaganda tool?
A little historical perspective might be useful here."
Whereas, the United Kingdom article doesn't even bring up said facts. The Edmonton Journal does, however, present those facts with definite bias. They are suggesting that Vancouver 2010's Olympics do not even compare to the chaos and tragedies that happened in previous Olympics.
Note: image from boomtownbejing
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ReplyDeleteProofreading and Copyediting Activity:
ReplyDeleteGreat post Terra!
The only error I found was that I think the "O" in Olympics should have been capitalized in this sentence:
"Neither would like to write that they are, indeed, the worst [O]lympics ever when Canadian moral is hoping to remain optimistic."
Really interesting blog post! Great job!
"However, Guardian.co.uk's article, Vancouver Games continue downhill slide from disaster to calamity, doesn't have to write to protect Canadian moral and writes about the transportation issues..."
ReplyDeleteI beleive this to be a mispelling. Were you trying to say morale?
As well, the evidence from the Edmonton Journal you used is actually an opinion piece, and therefore is supposed to have a bias.
"...have the intentions of Canadian's behind them." Perhaps should read "have Canadian's intentions behind them."
ReplyDelete"...issues, questions the safety of the luge sliding tracks and discussing the loss of face of $400,000 in ticket revenue due to lack of snow. The two Canadian articles don't..." The tense changes in the word discussing, perhaps you should use discusses.
Awesome Job!