The bias toward finding bias in television news

An experiment was conducted to determine whether self‐reported levels of reliance on television for news, or knowledge that a story was supplied by a non‐news entity influenced ratings of bias in the newscast. Results indicated that bias ratings were unaffected by level of media dependence or knowledge that a story was supplied. However, there was a significant difference in the bias ratings assigned depending on the type of story. An anchor voice‐over about Midwest flooding received the lowest bias rating, followed by a story about a new cancer‐fighting drug. Two stories packaged by reporters working for the local station received the highest bias ratings: a story about the “marriage penalty” in the tax code, and a report about a police raid on an adults‐only club. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.