Bias in the News

Pick up any newspaper, browse any news site, turn on any news channel, and listen. The chances are that you will sense a bias in the news. In India, the driving force is more of a financial nature.
The government in power can place full-page advertisements in newspapers of their choice. These can mean revenues in millions. Newspapers that toe the Government line get the ads. These newspaper houses ensure that the articles that analyze Government policies get watered down to present a positive spin.

News media of countries with dictatorships or totalitarian governments have no options to choose from. For them, it is always better to write praising the virtues of the Supreme Leader than to find themselves tied to the business end of a cannon.

I think the worst example of bias is visible in the news media from the US. From CNN to Fox, everyone has a bias. Democrat or Republican, the news item gets doctored to favor one or the other side. For a country that claims itself to be the epitome of democracy and democratic values, this is sad.

What happened to pure and simple journalism?

Present the news as it happens. Treat readers or viewers with respect and let them draw their conclusions. Let the readers form their opinion as to who the heroes and villains were in the story you narrated.