COPY EDITORS
- When asked to cut a story, am I cutting out parts that wind up making the story skewed to one side? Stories often need to be trimmed, and this often falls in the copy editor's lap. Say your edit takes out a good chunk of the opposing viewpoint -- this would introduce a degree of bias into the copy, and readers would automatically lay the blame at the feet of the reporter in the byline.
- Does the headline I write reflect a certain bias? Are you plucking a certain angle from the story that, say, makes a particular person look worse or highlights one entity's faults over another? The headline is a powerful place for bias to be introduced as the first thing that jumps out at the reader.
- Am I making language within the story or in the headline harder or softer to portray persons or issues within in a certain light? Sometimes wording needs to be refined -- but when doing so, make sure you're ridding the story of all slanted language the reporter may have used and not introducing bias of your own. And take care in writing headlines that are punchy and attention-grabbing, but not editorializing or trying to get the readers to see the story from a certain slant.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
- Am I selecting a certain shot or pose to reflect the photo subject in a light that reflects my opinions? This requires some introspection, perhaps peer input, and looking through your photo clips to look for any patterns in angles that you may have formed.
- When turning in shots, am I discarding images that may tell a different side of the story? When in doubt about whether the shot is of value in telling the story, consult with your editor. An extra set of eyes helps get fresh perspective on photo selection.
- Have I photoshopped or altered an image to reflect a certain viewpoint? Bear in mind the case of the Reuters stringer who added darker, additional smoke to a Lebanon bombing scene. He got caught by a sharp-eyed blogger, and Reuters had a huge credibility mess on their hands. Remove the red-eye; don't add bias.
- Am I actively seeking out all sides of an issue on scene? When out at a protest, look for the counter-demonstrators. When people are speaking out at a school board meeting, capture the reactions of the school board members. When a political candidate arrives to speak and press flesh at the senior center, get shots of the demonstrators holding signs at the end of the driveway.
- Am I not snapping a good shot because it doesn't reflect my personal opinion? Be honest with yourself about this. Your editor might never know about the shot opportunity you passed up, but readers might see other photos from the event on blogs or in other publications and wonder if bias may have figured in the omission.
- Am I volunteering for political campaigns or giving political contributions? Not a good idea if you're on staff at a newspaper or wire agencies. Stringer (freelance) photographers may be more lax on this, but see above to see potential bias problems with stringers.
- When I go out to shoot stories, are there bumperstickers on my car, etc., indicating political affiliation or other opinions on issues? Again, not a good idea.
COLUMNISTS
Remember that though you are paid to offer your opinions, your work earns respect when it is fair to the side with whom you don't agree. Be careful about using unproven sources or sketchy information to advance your opinion. Back up your claims about a candidate, issue, party, etc. Don't accept money from political parties or gifts from lobbyists.