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, one inference that can be made about news media is that bias can exist in news stories, either intentionally or accidentally, leading to the perception of unreliable news. The passage states, "They are worried that news stories might be biased...Readers sometimes worry that news organizations, intentionally or accidentally, publish biased stories." This suggests that bias can exist in news stories, which can lead to concerns about the reliability of the news. However, the passage also emphasizes that news organizations try to avoid bias by hiring trained reporters and employing editors to fact-check the articles.
Based on the passage, it can be inferred that news media can be prone to bias. The passage states, "Readers sometimes worry that news organizations, intentionally or accidentally, publish biased stories." This suggests that there is a perception among readers that news organizations may have a bias in their reporting. However, the passage also mentions that news organizations try to avoid bias by hiring trained reporters and employing editors to fact-check the articles. This implies that while bias may exist to some extent, news organizations make efforts to minimize it.
Based on the passage, an inference that can be made about news media is that bias 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 states that news organizations try to avoid bias by hiring trained reporters and employing multiple editors to check facts. Additionally, readers are encouraged to seek news from multiple sources and verify facts on their own. This suggests that both news organizations and readers recognize the potential for bias and take steps to mitigate it.
