Media bias is a perceived notion that certain press has and is pushing a viewpoint, instead of reporting news or airing programs in an objective way. Such bias often refers to media as a whole, such as a newspaper chain, or a given television or radio network, instead of individual reporters or writers of television shows.

It is almost impossible for any network or journalistic publication not to be accused of some media bias. Subtle things like word choice, time limits on programming, needs to have sponsors in order to run a business, and choice of sponsors may all be examples of media bias. As well, each individual who reports or writes the news has to work hard to guard against his or her own opinions. These opinions can become media bias simply through word choice or inflections and tone of voice when delivering news.

One form of media bias is failure to include varied points of view on a story. Often this may be viewed as failing to include the opposite viewpoint. However, it would be virtually impossible to include all viewpoints on a particular issue, since people approach issues from more than two directions. For example, those belonging to fringe political parties like the Libertarians or Green Party, often feel their viewpoint is not adequately represented in journalism.

This failure to represent is indeed media bias, though it may not be intentional bias. News stories may simply not have the time to cover all points of view, and may stick to classic “sides” such as democrat and republican, or left and right, in an attempt to curb media bias. However, the media will still be biased since it cannot represent all points of view.

Some media bias is quite blatant. In fact some stations or programs are known for presenting the news in a way that clearly takes a defined position. This is true of programs like the 700 Club, which interpret the news from a conservative Christian viewpoint. Some countries also present media bias programming when the government controls the media.

For example, in China, certain programs are allowed, while others may not be. Certain stories may be written while others must be ignored. This is an attempt to control thinking about the world in certain ways, which helps to sustain the government’s control of the people. Other countries also present news in ways slanted toward a particular set of ideals. Several Islamic countries, for example, control media and slant media to glorify religious ideals. This is especially the case in theocracies.

Another example of media bias, that tends to occur in Islamic countries, and in the US as well, is the presentation of facts that shows a national versus international bias. In most cases, when key world issues are discussed in presentation of the news in the US, these issues are discussed in terms of how they are perceived by Americans. They are not discussed in terms of how they are perceived by the world, in most cases.

It is quite interesting to watch news reports from other countries, now widely available on different cable networks that report news concerning US international issues. These stories tend to differ greatly from those presented by traditional US media. They may also have some media bias. An Irish news station might examine US decisions in relationship to how this affects Ireland. Often British news stations take a more global view, but media bias may still exist.

One of the advantages to global communication as we now have it, is that we do have access in this country to global views of our politics. One can read blogs from Sweden, listen to Al-Jazeera, read Chinese newspapers, or watch television that critiques our society. This access has a way of counteracting media bias because it allows for people to examine news themselves, in greater context. However, some prefer media bias because it presents information to them which reinforces their own opinions.