What is media bias? The definitions, the types, and how to spot it

What is media bias? It is the pattern of choices journalists and outlets make — what to cover, which quotes to run, which words to use — that favors one side, one party, or one view of the world, whether or not anyone intends it. The key qualification: bias is not the same as error, and it is not the same as a story you dislike. A single unfair story is a mistake. A pattern across many stories is bias. The word media itself is broad. As Market Business News defines it, media is the plural of medium and refers to the communication channels that carry news, music, education, and promotional messages — from physical and online newspapers to television, radio, and the internet. Bias can enter any of those channels, but this article focuses on news coverage: the reporting that claims to tell you what happened. Why does this matter for how information circulates?

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.