Word choice is a key tool reporters use to subtly convey bias. Media consumers must be aware of this in order to protect themselves from bias quietly injected in the news.

Words are never created equal. Even synonyms vary as far as connotation. Because of this, it is important to consider every word a reporter chooses to use, and ask: Is this the best possible choice of word here? Is this the least biased way this idea could have been phrased?

As an example, take the portion of an article an AIM blog quoted earlier this week. The article, from CNN, included the following:

Before departing the White House early Monday for a farewell tour of Europe, President Bush stole a page from his predecessor and suggested he feels American consumers’ pain.

Note the use of the word “stole.” Now, go to your favorite search engine and type in the phrase take a page from the book. In another window, search for the phrase steal a page from the book. See what comes up.

You’ll find that the historically accepted idiom actually reads “take a leaf from the book” (though in recent years the word “leaf” has changed to “page;” to substitute “leaf” with “page” is hardly an example of incriminating bias). Searching for take a page from the book results in pages of examples of the idiom in use.

However, when you search for stealing pages from a book, the references that come up refer to actual stealing.

Here, the CNN writers have twisted an idiom by replacing the commonly accepted term “take” with the word “stole,” which has a far more negative association. To “steal” a page from a book is not even an accepted variant of the familiar idiom.

Later in the same sentence, CNN writes that Bush “suggested he feels American consumers’ pain.” The key word here is “suggested.” Here are other ways the writers could have expressed the same idea:

– Bush said he feels American consumers’ pain

– Bush argued he feels American consumers’ pain

– Bush expressed that he feels American consumers’ pain

– Bush stated that he feels American consumers’ pain

Compare and contrast the connotations you notice with each of those variants. Does the word “said” evoke the same emotion as “suggested” does here?

“Said” and “stated” are generally considered to be neutral words. “Suggested” is a word that can be loaded with implications in a way a word like “said” cannot.


https://www.aim.org/on-target-blog/media-bias-in-strategic-word-choice/


The word “context” has a pretty large and abstract definition. From the Merriam-Webster dictionary, context is “the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw light on its meaning.”

It’s abstract because this definition implies that “context” can be anything providing meaning. It can take any shape or form as long as it clarifies what you are trying to say.

Context adds specificity to your writing and directs the reader attention to a particular train of thought. Thus avoiding, to a certain extent, unwanted interpretation.

Context is important, but too much will get in the way of your message as you digress and too little makes your writing hard for the reader to understand. Moderation is key. You need to find the right balance of necessary information to make your writing enjoyable to read.

https://writingcooperative.com/why-context-matters-in-writing-f52ad075c07a


I remember when reading comprehension tests that evaluated ability to understand context were one of the basics of education. Why does it seem like it is a skill that has been left to wane in the past few decades?

This is actually funny....

so context, bias , word choices used to convey bias is important now?

I could say the same thing when people are discussing and dissecting the 2nd amendment

funny how that works.

the irony is funny.

where did I post that bias is important?

I said bias is NATURAL, and I said it is important(therefore) to understand context.

what can I say , Im easily amused.

bias is natural, to some.

intelligent people tend to look at both side or how many sides exist and try to make informed decision vs making a decision on emotion.

Bias in the news today is a very common problem; goes along with "analysis". Thank you msharmony for pointing that out and NO, I don't find it humorous in any way!

I think just liberals are the ones reading crap into things like that...I read all of the bush questions the same, they all had the same message...why do you see something else?

This.

I ignore the bias...the underlying message is what counts...even tho the delivery might be slanted one way or another, the message itself could be important...so the bias jacket is meaningless if you get what they are saying

No child left behind, common core, terrible government policies
need anymore ?

imo, the polices weren't bad, the not caring was the problem...they lumped all kids as the same, and just pushed through school just to get graduation numbers higher and dropouts lower...the plan was a good idea, but the way they enacted it was just plain stupid...