Publication Date

12-2025

School

Helms School of Government

Major

Government: Politics and Policy

Keywords

Media, Politics, Press, Public Opinion, News Bias

Disciplines

American Politics | Other Film and Media Studies | Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Abstract

Even though the media does not maliciously warp public opinion, it can distort the public understanding of reality. Journalists desire to educate the people but are powerless against their own bias. Complicating matters is that they recklessly seek to increase engagement, exacerbating political polarization and a negative view of government. Factual reporting is more important with the rise of social media as a news source because Gen-Z’s political opinions are informed by social applications. While media bias existed before social media, it now remains mostly unchecked. Political reporters must be cognizant of the impact they have on voters and subsequently retreat from clickbait, colorful language, and an imbalance of negative news in their writing.

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