Opening Journal: Biases

Opening Journal

Biases are developed through a variety of mediums, such as media they interact with, friends they talk to and places they go. That can influence how someone looks at the world. For example, if someone views conservative media and interacts with conservative friends, their biases will be similar to a conservative leaning, and same with those who lean more liberally on the political scale. I also think biases are formed through family opinions- especially with your parents. When you’re young, you identify with your parents opinions, because you often times don’t know any better. 

My biases come from a variety of sources, including the media I interact with, my friends and my family. I have switched my political beliefs after becoming more educated on issues and realizing how my vote and what politicians beliefs I am voting for. I could change my biases based on how my family reacts and how the political climate changes. It’s important to implement background checks on all weapons sales and prohibit gun sales from those who have a history of mental illness or violent tendencies. 

It’s important to keep personal bias out of writing and reporting, because that can pollute the quality of the story. If your personal bias is introduced to a story, it can affect the way a story is looked at or viewed. It is important for journalists to report the facts, especially in the world of politics, where the facts can be extremely diluted. I would keep my biases out of a story disagreeing with my opinion on gun control, because even though I don’t agree with it, it’s important to report the facts for other people to form their own opinions, rather than being influenced by my own.