The hottest Media bias Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

The incumbency advantage is disappearing. Maybe it's the algorithms' fault.

Silver Bulletin • 240 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Media bias Political trends
  1. The incumbency advantage in politics is fading, possibly due to algorithms and media influence.
  2. Historical data shows a shift in favorability towards incumbents in elections.
  3. The negativity in media coverage and algorithmic targeting may contribute to the unpopularity of incumbents across different countries.

Reader mailbag: Bias in journalism, criminal justice in pop culture, and how my own politics have changed

The Watch • 578 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media bias Criminal Justice Political Beliefs Police Reform Civil Rights
  1. Bias in journalism can skew public perceptions, especially in crime shows like _The Forensic Files_ and _Cops_.
  2. Shows like _The Wire_ and _Homicide_ offer a more accurate portrayal of problems in law enforcement.
  3. Maintaining mental well-being is crucial when working in criminal defense, to avoid burnout in the field.
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Climate and the Media I

David Friedman’s Substack • 260 implied HN points • 05 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Media bias
  1. Many people form their beliefs about climate change based on second-hand sources like news stories and blogs.
  2. The media tends to exaggerate the severity of climate change, leading to misconceptions about the actual scientific findings.
  3. The IPCC reports provide a more balanced and nuanced view of climate change impacts compared to how they are portrayed in the media.

The Bomber and the Bombed

Humanities in Revolt • 99 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics War Media bias Ethics
  1. Understanding the significance of civilian deaths in war requires considering the responsible organizations, individuals, and actions that caused them.
  2. Media reports may seem objective but are shaped by value-based judgments and choices regarding what facts to highlight and how to present them.
  3. Objectivity in reporting requires considering multiple perspectives, self-awareness, and intellectual humility, rather than detached, care-less thought.

85% of Bill Maher's guests since Oct 7 are white; none are Muslim

Ijtihad • 57 implied HN points • 13 May 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media bias Diversity Issues Political Commentary Public Discourse Social Issues
  1. Bill Maher's guest list since October 7 has mostly featured white individuals, with no Muslim guests at all. This shows a concerning lack of diversity in viewpoints.
  2. The guests he does feature often share similar views, especially on the conflict in Gaza, ignoring voices that call for peace or criticize Israel's actions.
  3. Bill Maher's perceived liberal stance is being questioned as he increasingly silences anti-war sentiments and diverging opinions, which is disappointing for fans of his show.

Twitter Shoots Itself In The Head

Everything's Broken • 58 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Politicians Conspiracy Theories Media bias Far-right
  1. Elon Musk partnered with Tucker Carlson for a show on Twitter, raising concerns about premium video content hosting.
  2. Elon Musk has been amplifying far-right conspiracy theories, creating controversy.
  3. Tucker Carlson's past behaviors and beliefs, like the 'white replacement' theory, have been highly criticized, leading to his firing from Fox News.

Information Asymmetry and the Fall of Mainstream Media

As If We Were Staying • 3 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media bias Corporate Influence Health Policy Market failure
  1. Mainstream media is losing trust as many people see its biases and manipulations. Recent events, like a high-profile shooting, have made this clear to the public.
  2. Information Asymmetry affects consumers by giving corporations more knowledge than regular people. This can lead to companies hiding harmful practices and making choices difficult for consumers.
  3. To improve the situation, we need to support independent journalism and community-driven businesses. By doing this, we can push for better regulations and solutions to corporate power.

Analyzing media bias with AI

serious web3 analysis • 5 HN points • 20 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media bias Political Analysis Artificial Intelligence Data Analysis
  1. AI can quickly analyze news articles for bias, saving time compared to human assessment. It rates articles on a scale to determine if they lean left or right.
  2. Mainstream outlets like CNN and NYT tend to show moderate left-wing bias, while Fox News has a stronger right-wing bias. Some sources like AP and Reuters are closer to neutral.
  3. Bias in media can change over time. For example, CNN has become more left-wing recently, especially since the rise of Donald Trump, while Fox News has consistently maintained a right-wing stance.

Why did Indian exit polls get it so very wrong?

Get Down and Shruti • 6 implied HN points • 05 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Polls Media bias Public Opinion Political Analysis
  1. Media bias may have influenced the exit polls, with some outlets showing strong support for Modi. This bias springs from the government's power over media companies.
  2. There are concerns about preference falsification, where voters might say they support Modi due to fear of backlash. However, evidence suggests this is not the primary issue.
  3. A major problem is faulty sampling. Without recent census data, pollsters struggle to accurately represent the diverse Indian electorate, leading to unreliable exit poll results.

All Things Go, But Nothing Goes Faster Than Sports Glory Goes

Freddie deBoer • 1 HN point • 19 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Athletes Comparisons Legends Media bias
  1. The concept of 'Greatest of All Time' (GOAT) in sports is flawed because the title keeps changing hands quickly, making the term lose its meaning over time.
  2. Presentism, the bias towards the present, influences sports media to overlook past greats like Bart Starr and Sammy Baugh, focusing only on current players.
  3. Comparing athletes across eras is challenging and often biased due to the obsession with the present and the continuous turnover of 'greatest' titles in sports.