question about news sources

[Redux]

an odd question, but how do you determine whether a news source is accurate and reliable?

[TheBlackPrince]

Compare to other reports by other mass media.

[Redux]

from the same country?

[EvanL]

Just watch Fox News. There the most un-biased news source out there.

[Seiyuuki]

Nothing is perfect, news outlets will from time to time make mistakes or be bias in their reporting, but by evaluating several news sources instead of relying on just one, you can assure yourself of what is accurate or not. Some sources have long established root: New York Times, BBC, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, *******, etc.

[NicNZ]

That is an interesting question. It isnt until you start reading independent media it becomes easy (or easier) to pick the bias inherent in other sources. When you are used to reading independent accounts, you start to notice the subtle (or blatant) suggestions and implications made by biased journalists and media sources. Furthermore, having read independent accounts, you are often in a better position to question the truth of what you are reading, which in turn makes it easier to recognise biased media because the bias will trigger alarm bells in the back of your mind as you notice irregularities and peculiarities in what you are being told.

[roland]

Interesting question.
The best imo is to compare the sources, form different country. I think the BBC is not bad if not perfect.
But for me the most important is not to forget to use logic as a filter: logic never lie.
Also, a good way to detect crap is to see if there is a lot of emotion or not on what is said. National and international affairs are two different things, there is absolutely no sentiments on international affairs. On international affairs a mistake can change the course of history. So the States are cold b@stards where individual interests and even individual life has little importance, what's important is the interest of the whole.
We are not used to this way of thinking and fortunatelly. But when we have to get an opinion on international policy we have to switch in _COLD_BASTARD_MODE and the media too. Those who don't and say things like "he did this just to pisse the other one off because he doesn't like him" or thing like that are rubbish. ..... Like Fox News for example p-)

[askDNA]

It's not CNN

[CouchCommando]

an odd question, but how do you determine whether a news source is accurate and reliable?

Good basic knowledge about the world affairs and an open mind goes a loooong way. If you want unbiased information the best way is simply to read up about the subject from as wide variety of sources as possible, then compare the "facts" and check them your self. After all that you can decide what YOU believe, not what others want you to believe. Also you shouldn't believe what someone says just because it fits in your beliefs. We humans have a way of doing that if you hadnt noticed ;)

[username]

Write a letter/e-mail or even send a phone call to the writer of the article asking them to send you a letter/email with a list of his sources and information regarding how he/she obtained the information.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Look at everything with a skeptical eye.

Watch for editorializing. A "hard" news story will contain no opinion. Once the story starts theorizing about cause and effect, it is treading on the ground of the editorial.

As you read the story, think of the opposing views, or alternate interpretations and see if they are addressed or even mentioned. Few things in life are black and white, and so the story should not present only one side.

As others have said - it helps to stay informed and review many sources.

And of course, remember to use your head.

I will never forget as long as I live how my eyes were opened to bias in the media. It was during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings, where he was being accused of ****** harassment by that f'ing hag he used to work with. I watched the hearings live all day, for hours. Then I watched the network news at night. It was as if they had reported on an entirely different proceeding. They would splice & edit, leave out key information - all of course in an effort to present the "proper" view. Even more shocking to me was the monolithic nature of this deception, and how it was uniform across all media at the time.

[Commie]

yeah, exactly what 2 sheds jackson said.
Read with critical eyes. Always question the article, where does logic fail and where does it leave loose ties. Try to figure them out for yourself. There is always twosides, get into the mind of the other side. What would they have checked to see if it's true.

[Navy]

i heard foxnews from someone here. lol. you just lust ALL credibility. You cant even compare foxnews with bbc. are you on something?

[Legion]

Time and time again Fox News gets ripped in here, and I don't fully understand why. I understand that O'Reilly and Hannity are inflammatory personalities, but their shows are opinion based programming, not news. It seems to me that Fox reports stories (i.e. positive stories from Iraq) that other networks do not cover.

As far as CBS, NBC, and CNN there is a liberal bias in play. Fox does lean to the right, so why not get information from all of the above and form your own opinion? That's what I do.

BTW, I get my online news from Drudge and CNN to get both sides of the story.

[Commie]

Okey, legion since youre american im gonna let you in on a little secret.
Your democrats is with an European measure right.

So guess why we think FOX is biased to the right?

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Time and time again Fox News gets ripped in here, and I don't fully understand why. I understand that O'Reilly and Hannity are inflammatory personalities, but their shows are opinion based programming, not news. It seems to me that Fox reports stories (i.e. positive stories from Iraq) that other networks do not cover.

As far as CBS, NBC, and CNN there is a liberal bias in play. Fox does lean to the right, so why not get information from all of the above and form your own opinion? That's what I do.


I agree with your point about Fox news. They are a news network that features news AND opinion. They clearly state when the news portion is on, and when an opinion show is on. They have absolutely eaten everybody's lunch in the cable news market, crushing CNN and MSNBC under their jack-booted heel - because they have the audacity to not only offer the age old, tired liberal dinosaurs doing commentary - but right wingers who you can't find elsewhere.

Are they then to blame for when some doofus cites something that O'Reilly or Hannity says as slanted right wing "news"? This is like when somebody calls Limbaugh a news man. He has never, ever claimed to be any such thing.

Left-leaning commentary is thoughtful, insightful, and necessary to society, but right leaning is propaganda and discredits a network? Bah. They are simply providing balance to the endless left wing commentary.

The problem I see with the major media outlets - is that there's a fair amount of left leaning interpretation in their news - not just Andy Rooney's commentary. Say what you want about Foxnews, but I don't recall them ever creating a fake story from scratch, like the broadcast news has done many times (like Dan Rather, and the famous flaming Pinto story on ABC(?) way back when).

[Nikitaras]

FOX News is a right wing television cable program. It does not matter if it is commentary show or reporting the news. FOX puts a right wing slant to it. 99% of FOX crew are RWrs.

[Thom]

What scares me is when several different news sources report on a subject that I know alot of information about, and they get it completely wrong. It's very hard to get good information... and even if you do, you can't be sure that it is. Have to take everything with a pinch of salt unfortunatly :(

[EvanL]

i heard foxnews from someone here. lol. you just lust ALL credibility. You cant even compare foxnews with bbc. are you on something?
yeh i am actually
sarcasm.