Re:Ask HN: Where do you get your unbiased news?
by zbanks on Sunday July 11, 2010 @11:13PM
(#1506676)
Well, bias also comes from withholding facts. "Netherlands:0, Spain:1" doesn't mention the dramatic game between Germany & Spain.
Although it's pretty harmless here, it can make a difference when you talk about bigger things, like unemployment. Fox News might be apt to stress the fact that X Million Americans are unemployed this quarter, whereas NPR might note that unemployment rates are down Y%.
They're both true, and plain facts. Yet, highly biased. Even if you state both, you're ignoring other, larger factors. Did a government program start/expire? Did a set of large companies undergo layoffs? Etc.
So theoretically, if you read enough (true) information, you don't have to worry about bias. (Very hard to do practically)
Although it's pretty harmless here, it can make a difference when you talk about bigger things, like unemployment. Fox News might be apt to stress the fact that X Million Americans are unemployed this quarter, whereas NPR might note that unemployment rates are down Y%.
They're both true, and plain facts. Yet, highly biased. Even if you state both, you're ignoring other, larger factors. Did a government program start/expire? Did a set of large companies undergo layoffs? Etc.
So theoretically, if you read enough (true) information, you don't have to worry about bias. (Very hard to do practically)