both-sidesing
Artificial equivalence framing
Both-sidesing is presenting opposing viewpoints as equally valid or deserving of consideration, even when evidence strongly favors one side.
The term is typically critical, suggesting false balance—as when news coverage gives equal weight to climate scientists and climate deniers: The article was just both-sidesing the vaccine debate instead of reporting the facts.
Freedom from personal bias
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- mediaInformation distribution channels
- reportingConveying documented information
pundits · editorial · commentary · he-said-she-said · centrist · moderator · platforming · airtime
Deflecting criticism through counter-accusation
- equivocationAmbiguous language avoiding commitment
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- relativismContext-dependent truth doctrine
- minimizingReducing to smallest extent
normalizing · spin · handwringing · fence-sitting · obfuscation · gaslighting · disingenuous · concern-trolling
Separation into opposing extremes
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- bipartisanInvolving both major parties
- moderatesReduces intensity or extremity
- independentsUnaffiliated persons or entities
pundits · centrists · tribalism · accountability · asymmetry · extremism · radicalization · insurrection
objectivity
Freedom from personal bias
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- mediaInformation distribution channels
reporting · pundits · editorial · commentary · he-said-she-said · centrist · moderator · platforming · airtime · stenography
whataboutism
Deflecting criticism through counter-accusation
- equivocationAmbiguous language avoiding commitment
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- relativismContext-dependent truth doctrine
minimizing · normalizing · spin · handwringing · fence-sitting · obfuscation · gaslighting · disingenuous · concern-trolling · sealioning
polarization
Separation into opposing extremes
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- bipartisanInvolving both major parties
- moderatesReduces intensity or extremity
independents · pundits · centrists · tribalism · accountability · asymmetry · extremism · radicalization · insurrection · authoritarianism
both-sidesingtruth-telling
Communicating only facts
fact-checking · intellectual honesty · debunking · setting the record straight · straight talk
both-sidesingadvocacy journalism
News promoting specific causes
opinion journalism · muckraking · investigative journalism · editorializing · one-sided
both, side, sides, sided, siding, sidelong, sideways, sidebar, sideline