media bias
Journalistic one-sidedness
Media bias is the tendency of news outlets to present information in ways that favor particular viewpoints, parties, or interests.
Bias may appear in story selection, framing, word choice, or what gets omitted.
Accusations of media bias flow from all political directions: The network's media bias is obvious to anyone paying attention.
The term often functions as a dismissal—a way to discredit unfavorable coverage without engaging its substance.
Intentionally deceptive media content
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- false reportingGiving untrue accounts
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
misreporting · distortion · inaccuracy · debunking · fact-checking · correction · retraction · misleading
Structural or contextual shaping
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- angleGeometric measure of rotation
- narrativeAccount of events
- editorializingInserting opinion into coverage
cherry-picking · agenda-setting · selectivity · emphasis · perspective · viewpoint · interpretation · leaning
Systematic uncritical belief instillation
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
talking points · narrative control · messaging · jingoism · demagoguery · political agenda · manufactured consent · echo chamber
Sensationalized content for traffic
- yellow journalismReporting prioritizing shock value
- tabloidizationShift toward lurid coverage
- scaremongeringSpreading exaggerated threats
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
exaggeration · hyperbole · alarmism · shock value · infotainment · dramatization · hype · attention-grabbing
Forcible prevention or concealment
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- deplatformingRemoving from online platforms
- content moderationReviewing online submissions
- shadowbanSecret platform visibility reduction
blackout · editorial control · buried · underreported · self-censorship · corporate influence
Favoring progressive politics
- right-leaningTending toward traditionalist politics
- Fox NewsConservative American cable network
- MSNBCProgressive cable news outlet
- partisanBiased toward one side
ideological · tribal · polarization · filter bubble · motivated reasoning · party affiliation · wedge issues · talking heads
fake news
Intentionally deceptive media content
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- false reportingGiving untrue accounts
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
hoax · misreporting · distortion · inaccuracy · debunking · fact-checking · correction · retraction · misleading · out of context
framing
Structural or contextual shaping
editorializing · cherry-picking · agenda-setting · selectivity · emphasis · perspective · viewpoint · interpretation · leaning · tilt
indoctrination
Systematic uncritical belief instillation
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
manipulation · talking points · narrative control · messaging · jingoism · demagoguery · political agenda · manufactured consent · echo chamber · party line
clickbait
Sensationalized content for traffic
- yellow journalismReporting prioritizing shock value
- tabloidizationShift toward lurid coverage
- scaremongeringSpreading exaggerated threats
fearmongering · exaggeration · hyperbole · alarmism · shock value · infotainment · dramatization · hype · attention-grabbing · outrage bait
suppression
Forcible prevention or concealment
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- deplatformingRemoving from online platforms
- content moderationReviewing online submissions
shadowban · blackout · editorial control · buried · underreported · self-censorship · corporate influence
left-leaning
Favoring progressive politics
- right-leaningTending toward traditionalist politics
- Fox NewsConservative American cable network
- MSNBCProgressive cable news outlet
partisan · ideological · tribal · polarization · filter bubble · motivated reasoning · party affiliation · wedge issues · talking heads
- political controversiesabortion, gun control, voter suppression, gerrymandering, affirmative action
- media theoryagenda setting, gatekeeping, framing, hypodermic needle, magic bullet
- mediatelevision, news, broadcasting, video, radio station
- campaigningcandidate, campaign signs, canvassing, campaign manager, fundraising
- biasprejudice, racism, bigotry, sexism, ageism
- biaseshalo effect, horn effect
media biasobjectivity
Freedom from personal bias
impartiality · neutrality · balanced coverage · even-handedness · fairness
bias, media, immediately, immediate, biased, mediator, unbiased, median, mediate