Use the passage to complete the activity. Why Is the News Sometimes Controversial? Reporters gather facts and write about them—so why do some people say the news is unreliable? They are worried that news stories might be biased. Bias is an unfair representation of something or someone. It can happen when only one side of a story is presented, when only certain facts are shared, or when news organizations choose which stories they want to publish. Readers sometimes worry that news organizations, intentionally or accidentally, publish biased stories. News organizations try to avoid bias as much as they can. They hire trained reporters who know how to ask good questions about all sides of a story. They also employ many different editors to double-check all of the facts cited in the articles. Readers of the news can take their own steps to avoid possible bias in the news they read. They can read news from multiple sources, or they can look up facts on their own to make sure the news matches other websites and records. It is impossible to avoid bias completely, but news writers and news readers can still do a lot to make sure the information they share and read is accurate. In 3–5 sentences, identify and explain an inference you made about news media based on the passage. Support your answer with text evidence from the passage.
Based on the passage, it can be inferred that news organizations take steps to minimize bias in their reporting. The passage states that news organizations hire trained reporters who ask good questions about all sides of a story and employ various editors to double-check facts. This implies that news organizations value accuracy and strive to present a balanced and unbiased view of the news. The passage also suggests that readers have a role in avoiding bias by reading from multiple sources and fact-checking information. This implies that news organizations recognize the importance of providing unbiased information and that readers have the ability to discern and seek out reliable sources.
Based on the passage, an inference that can be made about news media is that bias in news stories is a concern for both news organizations and readers. The passage explains that bias can occur when only one side of a story is presented or when certain facts are selectively shared. It also mentions that news organizations try to avoid bias by hiring trained reporters and employing multiple editors to check the facts. Additionally, readers are advised to read news from multiple sources and cross-reference facts to ensure accuracy. This implies that both news organizations and readers recognize the importance of minimizing bias and ensuring the reliability of news.
Based on the passage, an inference that can be made about news media is that bias exists and can be a concern for readers. The passage mentions that some people say the news is unreliable because they worry about biased stories. It explains that bias can occur when only one side of a story is presented or when certain facts are selectively shared. The passage also mentions that news organizations try to avoid bias by hiring trained reporters who ask good questions and employing editors to double-check facts. This suggests that bias is acknowledged as a potential issue in news media, but steps are taken to mitigate it.
