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JAMES: Same event, but two completely different stories.
How is that possible?
Welcome to the world of media bias.
Reports of events can be twisted, depending on what the content creator wants you to believe.
So, we're going to look at the reasons and biases that may influence how media content is created.
You'll learn to spot bias, understand how it works, and know how to find the real story.
This is a vital skill to help you become a smarter media consumer.
On screen, there are two reports that have been written about an online video that has been manipulated using AI.
Your first task is to analyse the reports.
Think about how the specific language and overall tone changes the story being told.
What is each report trying to make you feel or think?
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You've just explored how the way a story is shaped can influence how we understand it.
Every choice, from the words in a headline to the photo selected for the thumbnail, shapes the meaning.
This is media bias.
Sometimes it's obvious but often, it's subtle.
Each of those articles highlighted a different type of bias.
Article 1 demonstrated bias by omission where important details are deliberately left out.
This report admits the critical fact that the video was later confirmed to be AI generated, presenting a fabricated event as real news.
And then there's confirmation bias, which is when we believe something just because it matches what we already think.
Article 2 demonstrates this by framing an isolated incident as proof that skaters are badly behaved, reinforcing a pre-existing negative stereotype.
Articles and posts that appear on your social media feeds are supercharged by algorithms; computer programs that learn what you engage with and feed you more of the same.
They can sometimes reinforce your existing views and potentially create an echo chamber.
This can lead to you hearing only the things you already think and believe, echoed back to you, making you think everyone has the same view.
The more shares or comments a piece of content gets, the more likely it will be prioritised by the algorithm.
This means sensationalist and shocking content often performs better.
There are news organisations that try to avoid this and give a balance of facts and opinions to allow you to make up your own mind,but because they're less sensational, they sometimes get less traction online.
Now, let's put your new skills to the test.
For your second task, you're going to become the journalist.
Choose one of these simple, neutral statements.
Your mission is to rewrite it twice.
First, write a short news article or social media post, giving the chosen story a really positive spin so it sounds like really good news.
Then, write a second version giving it a completely negative spin, as if it's terrible news.
Think about the powerful, persuasive words you could use to shape your reader's opinion.
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By creating your own biased reports, you can see how easily a story can be manipulated.
Lots of media has bias and it can come in many forms, and algorithms can trap us in echo chambers.
One key skill to help understand the real story is to always cross-reference at least two different sources reporting the same events and ask yourself,
“Is this report telling me what to think or presenting me with enough information to make my own mind up?”
By doing that, you're not just finding the facts.
You're taking control of your own perspective.
