Confirmation bias in the media skews the news.
Fuelled by confirmation bias and media logic, echo chambers expose news audiences mainly to reinforcing opinions, narrowing and distorting their worldview.
These phenomena hinder critical thinking, promote misinformation, and contribute to societal polarisation.
Confirmation bias is a constant challenge for PR professionals.
Here we go:
Enter: Confirmation Bias and Media
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Confirmation Bias in the News Media
Cognitive bias in the media presents a significant issue because it can skew the presentation and interpretation of news, leading to a distorted understanding of events and issues among the public.
“Confirmation bias, the tendency to consume news that confirms pre-existing attitudes and beliefs, can contribute to the spread of false news on digital platforms.”
Source: Digital Journalism 1Ling, R. (2020). Confirmation Bias in the Era of Mobile News Consumption: The Social and Psychological Dimensions. Digital Journalism, 8, 596 – … Continue reading
When media content is influenced by biases — such as confirmation bias, sensationalism, or media logic — it tends to favour certain narratives or perspectives, often at the expense of a balanced and comprehensive view.
This selective representation can reinforce pre-existing beliefs among audiences, contributing to the polarization of public opinion. It also hampers critical thinking, as people are less exposed to diverse viewpoints and more likely to accept biased information as truth.
“Confirmation bias is a cognitive bias in which individuals tend to focus on information that supports their existing beliefs, while overlooking contradictory information.”
Source: Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning 2Barry, P., & Tribe, L. (2009). Confirmation bias. Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1007/978 – 1‑4419 – 1428-6_2086
Confirmation bias in media reporting can perpetuate stereotypes and misinformation, influencing public opinion and policy decisions based on incomplete or skewed information.
In an era where media plays a crucial role in shaping societal discourse, cognitive biases undermine the credibility and trustworthiness of media outlets. It poses a broader challenge to informed decision-making and democratic processes in society.
Confirmation bias, amplified by social media algorithms and media logic, segregates online communities into isolated information bubbles — echo chambers.
Learn more: Confirmation Bias in Media: The Echo Chamber Challenge
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Echo Chambers on Digital Platforms
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Echo Chambers on Digital Platforms
Echo chambers, amplified by confirmation bias and media logic, pose a significant societal problem. They create environments where individuals are exposed primarily to opinions and information that reinforce their existing beliefs, leading to a narrow, often distorted worldview.
“Echo chambers in social media contribute to the viral spread of misinformation by acting as initial bandwagons for complex contagions.”
Source: PLoS ONE 3Törnberg, P. (2018). Echo chambers and viral misinformation: Modeling fake news as complex contagion. PLoS ONE, 13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203958
In echo chambers, critical thinking and exposure to diverse perspectives are limited, which can contribute to spreading misinformation and entrenching extremist views. 4Silfwer, J. (2018, August 6). How To Fight Populism. Doctor Spin | The PR Blog. https://doctorspin.net/how-to-fight-populism/
“Echo chambers are not just spaces where opinions are excluded, but also spaces where beliefs are reinforced, contributing to misinformation and collaborative resistance.”
Source: Episteme 5Elzinga, B. (2020). Echo Chambers and Audio Signal Processing. Episteme, 19, 373 – 393. https://doi.org/10.1017/epi.2020.33
Such isolation can intensify ideological polarisation, diminishing the opportunity for constructive dialogue and understanding between different groups.
Echo chambers can undermine the democratic process by creating fragmented publics, each with its own ‘facts’ and interpretations, making consensus and collaborative problem-solving increasingly challenging.
“Echo chambers and epistemic bubbles are distinct social epistemic phenomena, and addressing them requires distinct interventions.”
Source: Episteme 6Nguyen, C. (2018). ECHO CHAMBERS AND EPISTEMIC BUBBLES. Episteme, 17, 141 – 161. https://doi.org/10.1017/epi.2018.32
Learn more: Echo Chambers: Algorithmic Confirmation Bias
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Media Relations: Debiasing Techniques
“Debiasing techniques against confirmation bias could potentially promote human welfare by reducing ideological extremism and fostering understanding among diverse groups.”
Source: Perspectives on Psychological Science 7Lilienfeld, S., Ammirati, R., & Landfield, K. (2009). Giving Debiasing Away: Can Psychological Research on Correcting Cognitive Errors Promote Human Welfare? Perspectives on Psychological … Continue reading
As a PR professional working with the media, employing debiasing techniques is crucial to ensure balanced and accurate communication. Here are seven such techniques:
Implementing these debiasing techniques in your daily PR practice can significantly improve the accuracy and fairness of your media relations, fostering greater understanding and reducing confirmation bias.
Confirmation Bias in Organisations
Confirmation bias exists everywhere, not just in the media. Organisations themselves could benefit from being vigilant against biases influencing various internal communications practices:
Thanks for reading. Please consider sharing my public relations blog with other communication and marketing professionals. If you have questions (or want to retain my PR services), please contact me at jerry@spinfactory.com.
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ANNOTATIONS
| 1 | Ling, R. (2020). Confirmation Bias in the Era of Mobile News Consumption: The Social and Psychological Dimensions. Digital Journalism, 8, 596 – 604. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2020.1766987 |
|---|---|
| 2 | Barry, P., & Tribe, L. (2009). Confirmation bias. Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1007/978 – 1‑4419 – 1428-6_2086 |
| 3 | Törnberg, P. (2018). Echo chambers and viral misinformation: Modeling fake news as complex contagion. PLoS ONE, 13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203958 |
| 4 | Silfwer, J. (2018, August 6). How To Fight Populism. Doctor Spin | The PR Blog. https://doctorspin.net/how-to-fight-populism/ |
| 5 | Elzinga, B. (2020). Echo Chambers and Audio Signal Processing. Episteme, 19, 373 – 393. https://doi.org/10.1017/epi.2020.33 |
| 6 | Nguyen, C. (2018). ECHO CHAMBERS AND EPISTEMIC BUBBLES. Episteme, 17, 141 – 161. https://doi.org/10.1017/epi.2018.32 |
| 7 | Lilienfeld, S., Ammirati, R., & Landfield, K. (2009). Giving Debiasing Away: Can Psychological Research on Correcting Cognitive Errors Promote Human Welfare? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4, 390 – 398. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745 – 6924.2009.01144.x |
