Think about...
Learn to...
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Identify the audience and purpose of information found. |
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Read and identify editorial writing, explicit or inferred. |
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Determine credibility and potential biases of the author. |
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Analyze evidence presented for potential weaknesses. |
About Personal Perspectives
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Personal perspectives in the news present in many places and media formats.
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Watch the gossip...
People tell stories. We are social beings and it is normal for us to pass information via word-of-mouth.
Unfortunately, this information often becomes distorted as it spreads. Remember the childhood game of telephone? The information loses accuracy in the retelling and reinterpretation! Even eye-witness accounts are riddled with personal interpretation.
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Did emotions cloud witness understanding? |
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Did the person have a significant relationship (good or bad) with one of the event participants? |
Be very careful about relying on things you've "heard." Consider possible biases, ask clarifying questions, and check facts!
Understand Media Bias
Identifying bias in the media isn't always easy. Use our guide, Media Bias Uncovered, to learn simple techniques for helping you recognize bias.
Audit the Pundits!
While the role of pundit (Sanskirt for "learned") originates as an advisor or counselor to kings, today the term generally refers to those who share their personal opinions on a variety of social and political subjects through mass media. In print media, pundits publish regular "editorial" columns. On radio, television, and through podcasts and blogs, pundits are also referred to as "talking heads," openly (and sometimes loudly) sharing their own analysis of newsworthy events.
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It is crucial to remember that pundits both express and bolster personal opinions. Oftentimes, they share extreme or incendiary commentary meant to excite reaction. In his book,The Big Sort (available in our Library), Bill Bishop argues that over the past three decades Americans have been "sorting" themselves into distinct and polarized communities based on information that supports rather than challenges their own point-of-view. The task for the information literate consumer is to sort this punditry out from factual news. This is not always easy. In today's media, pundits are often presented alongside traditional news and differences between opinion and fact are not always clearly defined. Listening to, and reading, editorial pundits is the perfect opportunity to EXERCISE YOUR MIND!
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Pundits represent all factions within the social and political spectrum, as illustrated in the following list of well known pundits of the day:
Interested in finding more? |
Tips for Tuning In
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Should You be laughing?
 Cartoon by Greg Williams. Click to view original full-size image. |
Satire uses humor to draw public attention to important social/political issues. In the mass media market, it present in a variety of mediums:
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Is following the news through satire effective? A 2007 poll conducted by the PEW Research Center indicated that regular viewers of satirical comedy shows such as those hosted by Stewart and Colbert are often more informed about current events than consumers of traditional news. However, another study published in 2008 found reason for caution. This study revealed what they identify as the "Stewart/Colbert Effect" which shows that while informed, many viewers were less likely to become politically engaged, perhaps because of an increased sense of alientation from mainstream politics. |
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SOURCES:
Cao, X.X. and Brewer, P.R., 2008. Political Comedy Shows and Public Participation in Politics, Journal of Public Opinion, 20(1), pp. 90-99.
Public Knowledge of Current Affairs Little Changed by News and Information Revolutions: What Americans Know: 1989-2007 (Rep.) (2007, April 15). Retrieved February 20, 2013, from PEW Research Center website: http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=319
Finding Editorials
Looking for editorials? You can find them across the media. Take a look at:
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Critical Reviews
Editorial Blogs
Editorial Columnists at the USA Today | The NY Times | Milwaukee JS Online | Wisconsin State Journal Editorial Cartoons - Learn more on our guide to Editorial Cartoons |
Viewpoint Databases
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