Bias: the favoring of a particular view, belief, or opinion that may detract the audience from understanding the objective truth.

All sources have some sort of Bias as objective truth is incredibly difficult to convey. It’s more important to determine the level of bias and how much it is “swayed” or “favored” from the objective truth. There are many types of Bias, and those types explain how or why the truth is “swayed”

Political Bias

• Depending on the news source, certain topics may be presented with significant bias.
• A topic on the Left may focus on “leftist” issues in a more positive light than the Right—and vice versa.
• A more central news source will attempt to limit bias, but that does not guarantee objective truth.

Corporation Bias

• Media or Research can be presented in a certain way to bolster the image or objective of a corporation. Typically, this happens when research has been funded by a corporation. This does not mean that data is falsified, but certain data may be highlighted or ignored to come to a different conclusion.
• This also does not imply that the researchers themselves acted in bad faith, but the ones providing the funding influenced the outcome.

Confirmation Bias

• Understanding truths or changing one’s opinion can be difficult, and humans are not logical creatures, they are emotional. Often, people will seek material that supports their beliefs, rather than go against it.
• Researchers may alter data to get the results they want to believe are true.
• Sometimes, it is in the best interest of media to publish materials that support an accepted truth rather than challenge it.

How to Avoid Bias

• Read multiple sources.
• Rely on more reputable sources and avoid questionable sources.
• Check those see if the source has citations, and check those citations for verification. 
• Determine what type of bias may be used and how that might influence the source.