Media Bias

[Truth in love]

The events involving BYU teams recently points to a lot of bias. Two events one well supported by evidence the other completely lacking. The greater and more widespread coverage was of the fake event. Yes for many with limited news sources they might conclude that the hate and bigotry directed at BYU players was not real. I cant find the story on ABC, NY Times. I did find a few stores about the lack of telling this story by news outlets that covered the unsupported accusations. .

Who mourns for the Mormons?
Media largely ignores anti-Mormon chant at Oregon-BYU game

Now for the purpose of this thread. What do you do to minimize your blind spots due to bias and creative narrative work by media companies?

 

[Orbit]

Maybe the national media ignored it because it wasn't a nationally important story--students do stupid things, who knew?

 

[Father Heathen]

NBC, CBS, ESPN, and The Washington Post covered it.

Did Fox initially cover it? Or only mention that no one else mentioned it?

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I saw a number of stories about this incident over a period of several days, online and on broadcast media...I don't currently use print media, so I can't comment on that. But it seemed to get covered, in more detail than I cared about...

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

The events involving BYU teams recently points to a lot of bias.

No, it points to an instance of bias and, in my opinion, one not dissimilar to that suggested by your focus on this instance in a period awash with homophobia, xenophobia, and misogyny.

What should one do? Identify unevidenced claims, false equivalencies, and unwarranted generalizations and exaggerations.

 

[sun rise]

What do you do to minimize your blind spots due to bias and creative narrative work by media companies?

The example in the OP was not correct - there was a lot of coverage in various places but I'll comment on the question.

First I recognize the media bias toward sensationalism that goes beyond left/right bias. Years ago when there was an earthquake in the SF Bay area that caused part of a bridge to collapse as well as some buildings, relatives contacted me because they thought there was nothing but ruin everywhere because of the media coverage which showed nothing but the bridge collapse and the few houses that were destroyed.

Second I recognize the media bias in supporting and amplifying fear and anger because that goes along with capturing and holding people's attention. Politicians and others are very helpful because they see it in their interest to get their supports fearful and enraged so all a media source needs to do is to quote such figures.

Third I recognize political bias exists. If I read Fox or MSNBC I remember I'm reading a right bias or left bias web site. I also focus on neutral or minimally biased sites by looking at the BBC, AP News, Wall Street Journal (slightly biased right in their news stories) and WaPo.

Would you believe these headlines are for the same story?

• House Democrats Preemptively Pan GOP’s ‘Extreme’ Policy Agenda
• Kevin McCarthy vows GOP-led House would immediately repeal Biden admin's hiring of 87,000 IRS agents
• House GOP Announces ‘Commitment to America’ — Its First Proposal Should Be Instantly Popular
• Eight Questions for Leader McCarthy & Republicans on their Radical Agenda Rollout
• U.S. House Republicans to push energy, crime and immigration agenda in midterms push

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

The events involving BYU teams recently points to a lot of bias. Two events one well supported by evidence the other completely lacking. The greater and more widespread coverage was of the fake event. Yes for many with limited news sources they might conclude that the hate and bigotry directed at BYU players was not real. I cant find the story on ABC, NY Times. I did find a few stores about the lack of telling this story by news outlets that covered the unsupported accusations. .

Who mourns for the Mormons?
Media largely ignores anti-Mormon chant at Oregon-BYU game

Now for the purpose of this thread. What do you do to minimize your blind spots due to bias and creative narrative work by media companies?

A critical thinker is trained to sort claims from fact from opinion. Eventually, it's second nature to disregard all insufficiently supported claims, which does not mean deem those claims incorrect, but rather, somebody's opinion that they didn't support. You see it on these threads every day from assorted critical thinkers. So, it's not an issue.

And how to approach the claims of fact? That's a different subject. One mustn't

Although your premise has been challenged by others, let's stipulate to your position that the media were outraged by BYU allegedly hurling racial epithets a Duke volleyball player but not to the Oregon fans shouting obscenities to Mormons, because I don't care to fact-check any of that article. The tone was tendentious, which is a red flag: "Our brave warriors of “inclusion” and “tolerance” in the media don’t care about either of those things. They care about furthering their narrative that America is built on white supremacy, and they will pursue that, one fake slur or shamed Mormon at a time." That's pure editorial, and it had no effect on this reader except to reveal the author's agenda and purpose for writing the piece. He doesn't like liberals. He likely detests what he sees as the woke, or social justice warriors. So, I have no respect or use for his opinion, and wouldn't be indoctrinated by it even if I did. Again, not an issue.

What's your point for posting this? Is it that others should be outraged at the media for an alleged double standard? Is it because it violates a cherished American principle of tolerance? Because it violates the spirit of "I may not agree with you, but I'll fight to the death to defend for your right to hold and express your opinions"? That ship has sailed. That America is gone. This liberal humanist has lost interest in huge swathes of Americans.

This is the America of "I don't agree with you, so **** your feelings," "I don't agree with you, so I'm wearing my assault rifle into Wal-Mart but not a mask and don't care how that makes you or your kids feel," "I don't agree with you so let's own you," "I don't agree with you so you're a Communist," and the like. How about "I don't agree with you about abortion, so it's off to prison with you" or I don't like the history you want to teach or the books you want kinds to read, but screw you, we're banning them"? Or "Let's go, Brandon"?

Anyway, at this point, forbearance for the other is out the window for me if the other is any of the types described above, for example. These aren't my people any more, and I no longer offer the same courtesies to others simply because they're fellow Americans or fellow human beings. That's no longer enough.

Where were the Mormons when Roe was overturned? On the side of American values like church-state separation and freedom of and from religion? Nope: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, the Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience, and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions ... The Church’s position on this matter remains unchanged. As states work to enact laws related to abortion, Church members may appropriately choose to participate in efforts to protect life and to preserve religious liberty." That's pretty anti-American and anti-woman. So no, no outrage over Mormons being disrespected.

 

[Jane.Doe]

A critical thinker is trained to sort claims from fact from opinion. Eventually, it's second nature to disregard all insufficiently supported claims, which does not mean deem those claims incorrect, but rather, somebody's opinion that they didn't support. You see it on these threads every day from assorted critical thinkers. So, it's not an issue.
.

Here's the facts of the incidents:
- In a BYU vs Duke basketball game, there was the claim that a BYU student (one student) used "N****" to describe the Duke largely Black team one time. The student was immediately suspended by BYU and harshly condemned. The incident made national news. Upon further investigation, the N was wasn't actually used at all, and the whole thing was a mistake in the noise of the crowd.

- A week later, at a BYU versus Oregon football game, the entire SECTION of Oregon fans group chant "F**** Mormons" over and over again THROUGHOUT the game. The Oregon administration did nothing at the time. Later the administration and even the governor would apologize for the students' behavior, which is a solid step in the right direction. But it was just words- so suspensions or other actions taken. The incident makes lower level news.

- This is also extremely remencisent of another indecent just a year ago at the BYU versus University of Southern California football game when the USC fanbase pull the exact same stunt, while somehow forgetting their str quarterback is Mormon.



Now here's the question: are you* ok with bigotry and shouting profanities? Do you support it against some groups but not others? *"You" here is for every person.

I'm personally passionately against bigotry in all forms- you don't shout profanities at others not matter who they are, or other bigoted acts. I don't care if it's about race, politics, faith, nationality, sex, or whatever -- ALL persons should be treated with respect.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Now for the purpose of this thread. What do you do to minimize your blind spots due to bias and creative narrative work by media companies?

Read widely and critically.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Here's the facts of the incidents:
- In a BYU vs Duke basketball game, there was the claim that a BYU student (one student) used "N****" to describe the Duke largely Black team one time. The student was immediately suspended by BYU and harshly condemned. The incident made national news. Upon further investigation, the N was wasn't actually used at all, and the whole thing was a mistake in the noise of the crowd.

- A week later, at a BYU versus Oregon football game, the entire SECTION of Oregon fans group chant "F**** Mormons" over and over again THROUGHOUT the game. The Oregon administration did nothing at the time. Later the administration and even the governor would apologize for the students' behavior, which is a solid step in the right direction. But it was just words- so suspensions or other actions taken. The incident makes lower level news.

- This is also extremely remencisent of another indecent just a year ago at the BYU versus University of Southern California football game when the USC fanbase pull the exact same stunt, while somehow forgetting their str quarterback is Mormon.



Now here's the question: are you* ok with bigotry and shouting profanities? Do you support it against some groups but not others? *"You" here is for every person.

I'm personally passionately against bigotry in all forms- you don't shout profanities at others not matter who they are, or other bigoted acts. I don't care if it's about race, politics, faith, nationality, sex, or whatever -- ALL persons should be treated with respect.

I will protect bigots and racists right to express their own opinions, even if I don't agree with the bigotry or racism myself.

However, I do agree aggrieved actions beyond expressions ought to be addressed, and all people equally protected against any hateful actions that are not justified.

 

[Father Heathen]

Media bias is a problem, but it's ironic for Fox News of all outlets to complain about it.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

- A week later, at a BYU versus Oregon football game, the entire SECTION of Oregon fans group chant "F**** Mormons" over and over again THROUGHOUT the game.

Source?

I'm asking because the articles in the OP only link to a Twitter video of ~5 people chanting it for a few seconds.

 

[Father Heathen]

As an side, I think sports in this country get way too much emotional and monetary investment, especially in regards to schools, where focus should be on academics.

 

[metis]

No, it points to an instance of bias and, in my opinion, one not dissimilar to that suggested by your focus on this instance in a period awash with homophobia, xenophobia, and misogyny.

What should one do? Identify unevidenced claims, false equivalencies, and unwarranted generalizations and exaggerations.

^^this^^