More than eight in 10 U.S. adults report being frustrated with the amount of bias in the national news, according to the non-profit Knight Foundation. This frustration extends to students, as they are tasked with gathering knowledge and developing informed views in the classroom. Yet many students find themselves surrounded by U.S. news sources clouded by political biases, leaving little room for students to develop independent opinions on global issues. Taking initiative and finding platforms with the most diverse, international perspectives is productive in students’ learning process.
According to Statista, The New York Times is the second most-read newspaper in the U.S., following The Wall Street Journal, and it is definitely a fan favorite for Menlo students and staff. In spite of its popularity, The New York Times consistently connects any international news event to its impact on the US and how the situations affect American politics.
Director of Student Belonging Carmen Borbón has a personal connection to the paper, having grown up in New York and consistently goes to it for her news. However, Borbón is well aware that the national paper has its biases like any other news outlet. “Whenever I’m reading The New York Times covering some sort of international event, I have to think, like, ‘is this just an American angle or what’s really happening?’’’ she said.
The New York Times is widely considered a left-leaning publication, which can infuse its coverage with a Democratic bias. Despite the fact that all sources have underlying opinions that can shape their reporting, national papers tend to focus on how events affect the U.S., not global conflicts. To senior Lily Kautai, this has proved clear through her consistent use of The New York Times during research projects. “I actually just looked at The New York Times in my last class, and the first article I got was about Donald Trump and his presidency,” Kautai said. “And when I quickly browsed through it, the amount of bias being directed towards U.S. citizens was just a lot.”
This overwhelming political focus can distort students’ perception of American media. “When I’m using […] The New York Times […] I see a lot of American politics, and it makes me not want to use that source anymore because it makes it seem like everything negative going on revolves around it,” Kautai said.
Menlo students do have access to news without national prejudice if they are willing to find sources that have input from reporters around the world, but it’s up to them to take initiative. From seeing viewpoints that aren’t strictly American, students can see issues from all sides. These international sources provide diverse perspectives that allow students to form their own opinions on global conflicts. Freshman Neel Behl has already faced limitations that come with domestic news. “With all the bias in U.S. news right now, it is nice to have some fresh perspectives,” Behl said about utilizing popular international news sites.
Students need these diverse viewpoints on world events from their news sources because they provide necessary lessons that help kids with school and their perception of areas they can’t see firsthand. “My friends tell me about leaving and traveling to different countries and learning about their issues, and I feel like that other perspective can really change the way we think about how our community and country works,” Kautai said.
But since travel isn’t possible for everyone, outlets like BBC World News (based in London), Reuters (also in London) and Al Jazeera News (based in Qatar) are the easiest ways to access information through the lens of journalists with totally different political backgrounds and ranges of biases. Menlo also provides students and faculty with subscriber access to the Financial Times, a British newspaper. Besides, language barriers aren’t an issue with these sources, as they all provide English versions for English-speaking readers.
At the end of the day, Borbón believes that no article can be perfectly impartial. “Every single news organization is going to have some bias, right? We’re human beings, so there’s always gonna be that bias, but I think that the more perspectives you can get, the better,” she said. Getting in as many outside sources as possible can help students get a bigger picture and become more talented at detecting hidden prejudice in the information they use for research and entertainment.
Math teacher Rebecca Akers advises students to sample all different news, from international to national sources. This strategy develops teens’ overall umbrella of trust in different organizations, which is a tool that allows for the most thorough, accurate research.
We live in a world where media bias is unavoidable, but students can certainly educate themselves while cognizant of that bias. So they must search for diverse news sources to broaden their perspectives and enhance their critical thinking skills. By embracing international news outlets and understanding that biases are inherent in all media, students can become more informed global citizens who are ready to engage with the world beyond their own borders.
