How to Write an Unbiased News Story

Despite the common criticism of bias in the news media, most mainstream reporters try to provide fair and balanced reporting when observing events. The best reporters are those who never let the audience know what they personally believe.

Instructions

1. Take detailed notes about the situation you are covering. These notes can help justify an opinion, if necessary. For example, rather than claiming a councilmember was drunk at the meeting, reporting that you could smell alcohol on his breath, he stumbled three times trying to reach the council table and slurred his speech let's the reader judge for himself.

2. Assume the best about people but trust no one. For example, if the city treasurer claims that the tax increase is to pay for a new water plant but the city audit shows thousands of dollars in unpaid city legal fees, ask about both and report on both.

3. Ask questions even when you think you know the answer. It can be easy to create bias in reporting by simply failing to question things that go along with your personal beliefs. For example, when the school board claims it needs to raise taxes to have more money to hire better teachers, ask how it knows that the higher priced teachers are better.

4. Imagine the questions you would have if the story were about you or someone you love. As a reporter striving to write an unbiased story, you must make the facts clear without ambiguities that could lead to false impressions.

5. Quote accurately and thoroughly. This is one of the most prevalent forms of bias in the media today. Never take a quote out of context or use just a snippet of a quotation in an effort to grab headlines or make someone look bad.

Tips & Warnings

• When writing a news story, imagine that your best friend knows absolutely nothing about the situation. Then, tell her the important facts.