Tips on Avoiding Media Bias
Say you're researching for a topic or paper and you need news sources or other reliable sources. These are some pointer you can take to avoid getting biased material.
1. Use well-known news-sites as primary sources --> CNN, BBC, etc.
2. If your topic is controversial or bias-prone (i.e. wars), be aware that whatever news source you use will contain some bias toward/against something. Work according; for example, if the horrors of country x to country y is emphasized, and you know the source you use is friendly to country y, then be smart. Know that bias is evident.
3. If an article asserts something that's not common knowledge, make sure a secondary source backs that information up. A lot of false information is put up on the web! Make sure the article has citations.
4. BE aware that most media sources, if reporting on events, will emphasize the seriousness of an issue just to get public protest started. For example, global warming probably won't drown us all in twenty years, but the media exaggerates to get the public galvanized to do something about global warming.
5. DO NOT trust statistics or other such evidence if given by a biased person. A feminist will exaggerate the number of sexually harassed women to get people outraged enough to do something about it. Again, double-check their assertions.
6. PERSONAL bias is also a big thing, so be careful of that. A humanist writing a scientific paper will differ in his views from a Christian writing a scientific paper on the same topic. Make sure you take that into consideration!