Newspaper Bias Assessment POLS-B 190

Below you will find descriptions for four tasks. The purpose of each is to analyze elements of media
effects we have studied in class. In your responses, be sure that you are using course concepts—for
example: lenses, frames, tone, agenda setting, priming, persuasion. A central purpose of the assignment is
to apply these concepts and demonstrate your familiarity with them. Students should also be referring to
our course readings on media effects (Barbour and Wright, Jamieson and Waldman, and Iyengar,
especially). Answer the questions in a separate document you create, labeling your responses 1a, 1b, etc.
Using 12-point font, double spacing, and 1-inch margins, your full assessment should be around three-tofour
pages in length. Turn your paper in to Canvas Assignments by Friday, October 14 at 11:59 p.m.
1. Front Page Analysis (25 points)
Consider the four front pages included in Newspaper Bias Assessment Images files folder (available in
Canvas/Files/Course Documents). These three front pages were published on Saturday, October 8, 2022.
a) Read the language in the headlines for the front-page reports from each newspaper. Describe
examples of any “loaded” phrases, or biased language. (10 points)
b) Discuss one example of framing you see from each newspaper (in other words, select one
report from each and discuss how it frames the report). (10 points)
c) Are there any common report topics in the three newspapers’ headlines/coverage? Discuss
how this relates to agenda setting. (5 points)