On the Shelf at CCBC Libraries
Merchants of Truth by Call Number: PN4867 .A27 2019
On Press by
"The ultimate story behind all the stories... In an age when the press is alternately villain or hero, Pressman serves as a kind of medicine man of journalism, telling us how we got from there to here."--Graydon Carter, former editor of Vanity Fair In the 1960s and 1970s, the American press embraced a new way of reporting and selling the news. The causes were many: the proliferation of television, pressure to rectify the news media's dismal treatment of minorities and women, accusations of bias from left and right, and the migration of affluent subscribers to suburbs. As Matthew Pressman's timely history reveals, during these tumultuous decades the core values that held the profession together broke apart, and the distinctive characteristics of contemporary American journalism emerged. Simply reporting the facts was no longer enough. In a country facing assassinations, a failing war in Vietnam, and presidential impeachment, reporters recognized a pressing need to interpret and analyze events for their readers. Objectivity and impartiality, the cornerstones of journalistic principle, were not jettisoned, but they were reimagined. Journalists' adoption of an adversarial relationship with government and big business, along with sympathy for the dispossessed, gave their reporting a distinctly liberal drift. Yet at the same time, "soft news"--lifestyle, arts, entertainment--moved to the forefront of editors' concerns, as profits took precedence over politics. Today, the American press stands once again at a precipice. Accusations of political bias are more rampant than ever, and there are increasing calls from activists, customers, advertisers, and reporters themselves to rethink the values that drive the industry. As On Press suggests, today's controversies--the latest iteration of debates that began a half-century ago--will likely take the press in unforeseen directions and challenge its survival.
Call Number: PN4888.E8 P74 2018
Evaluating Media Bias by Call Number: PN4888.O25 S35 2018
The Truth Matters by Call Number: PN4815.2 .B37 2017
Skewed : a Critical Thinker's Guide to Media Bias by Call Number: PN4888.O25 A875 2016
Partisan Journalism by Call Number: PN4888.O25 K84 2014
Tools to Help Detect Bias in News Articles
Even the most respected journalists have some bias, which can influence their reporting. This site can help you to determine fact from opinion in articles.
- AllSides
Unlike regular news services, AllSides exposes bias and provides multiple angles on the same story so you can quickly get the full picture, not just one slant. - First Draft
First Draft is an organisation dedicated to supporting journalists, academics and technologists working to address challenges relating to trust and truth in the digital age. - Lead Stories
"Just Because It's Trending Doesn't Mean It's True — Fact checking at the speed of likes since 2015"
Online Articles
- Yes, Fake News Is a Problem. But There’s a Real News Problem, Too.
New York Times, July 26, 2020 - 10 Journalism Brands Where You Find Real Facts Rather Than Alternative Facts
Forbes, Feb. 1, 2017
Newspaper Databases
- Regional Business News This link opens in a new window
Articles from business publications, journals, newspapers and newswires from all metropolitan and rural areas within the United States.
- Baltimore Sun This link opens in a new window
Baltimore's newspaper, which is good for local news and issues from 1990 - today.
For articles published 1837-1992, see ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Baltimore Sun.
Confirmation Bias
- We ignore what doesn’t fit with our biases – even if it costs us
New Scientist, September 4, 2017
Denying to the Grave by Call Number: RA418 .G64 2017
Online from CCBC Libraries
Information Security Essentials by
As technological and legal changes have hollowed out the protections that reporters and news organizations have depended upon for decades, information security concerns facing journalists as they report, produce, and disseminate the news have only intensified. From source prosecutions to physical attacks and online harassment, the last two decades have seen a dramatic increase in the risks faced by journalists at all levels even as the media industry confronts drastic cutbacks in budgets and staff. As a result, few professional or aspiring journalists have a comprehensive understanding of what is required to keep their sources, stories, colleagues, and reputations safe. This book is an essential guide to protecting news writers, sources, and organizations in the digital era. Susan E. McGregor provides a systematic understanding of the key technical, legal, and conceptual issues that anyone teaching, studying, or practicing journalism should know. Bringing together expert insights from both leading academics and security professionals who work at and with news organizations from BuzzFeed to the Associated Press, she lays out key principles and approaches for building information security into journalistic practice. McGregor draws on firsthand experience as a Wall Street Journal staffer, followed by a decade of researching, testing, and developing information security tools and practices. Filled with practical but evergreen advice that can enhance the security and efficacy of everything from daily beat reporting to long-term investigative projects, Information Security Essentials is a vital tool for journalists at all levels. * Please note that older print versions of this book refer to Reuters' Gina Chua by her previous name. This is being corrected in forthcoming print and digital editions.
Publication Date: 2021
Journalism after Snowden by
Edward Snowden's release of classified NSA documents exposed the widespread government practice of mass surveillance in a democratic society. The publication of these documents, facilitated by three journalists, as well as efforts to criminalize the act of being a whistleblower or source, signaled a new era in the coverage of national security reporting. The contributors to Journalism After Snowden analyze the implications of the Snowden affair for journalism and the future role of the profession as a watchdog for the public good. Integrating discussions of media, law, surveillance, technology, and national security, the book offers a timely and much-needed assessment of the promises and perils for journalism in the digital age. Journalism After Snowden is essential reading for citizens, journalists, and academics in search of perspective on the need for and threats to investigative journalism in an age of heightened surveillance. The book features contributions from key players involved in the reporting of leaks of classified information by Edward Snowden, including Alan Rusbridger, former editor-in-chief of The Guardian; ex-New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson; legal scholar and journalist Glenn Greenwald; and Snowden himself. Other contributors include dean of Columbia Graduate School of Journalism Steve Coll, Internet and society scholar Clay Shirky, legal scholar Cass Sunstein, and journalist Julia Angwin. Topics discussed include protecting sources, digital security practices, the legal rights of journalists, access to classified data, interpreting journalistic privilege in the digital age, and understanding the impact of the Internet and telecommunications policy on journalism. The anthology's interdisciplinary nature provides a comprehensive overview and understanding of how society can protect the press and ensure the free flow of information.
Publication Date: 2017
Online Newspapers
Online newspapers are good for recent and breaking news. Articles are often taken off the website fairly quickly, but they will still be available on the library database. Online newspapers also contain ads, which can be avoided by using the library databases.
How Biased is Your News Source?
- How biased is your news source? You probably won’t agree with this chart
MarketWatch, March 1, 2018