In Journalism, “bias” is a Word with Many Meanings GMAT Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Question

In journalism, "bias" is a word with many meanings. It suggests a single explanation — a conscious, even willful preference for a selective portrayal of a situation — for a range of instances in which the message does not reflect the reality. But few objective observers of, for instance, the reporting of campaign finance would argue that conventional biases are operating there. Journalists, in general, are not singling out Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives, for praise or blame. Rather one has to look to more intrinsic and ingrained factors — to the "structural biases" of American newspapers and the "political assumptions" of their reporters, editors, and headline writers — to explain bias in the news.

Structural biases are rooted in the very nature of journalism — in its professional norms, in marketplace imperatives, in the demands of communicating information to an unsophisticated audience. Stories need identifiable actors; understandable activity; and elements of conflict, threat, or menace. They cannot be long and must avoid complexity — they must focus on controversy, personalities, and negative statistics rather than on concepts. These characteristics define the "good" story. As for political assumptions, all observers bring a cognitive map to American politics — a critical posture toward politics, parties, and politicians. For some, it is as Ample as "all politicians are crooks"; for others, it involves a particular understanding of the distribution of power and influence in America.

The media's distinct understanding of the ways of influence and decision making in government colors the way journalists describe political reality. This conceptualization also defines journalists' responsibility in reporting that reality; contemporary reporters are in many ways the grandchildren of the Progressive muckrakers. Few aspects of American politics reinforce this Progressive worldview as effectively as the American way of campaign finance. Its cash is an easy measure of influence, and its PACs are perfect embodiments of vested, selfish interests. In assuming that public officials defer to contributors more easily than they do to their party, their own values, or their voting constituency, one has the perfect dramatic scenario for the triumph of wealthy special interests over the will of majorities and the public interest.

Structural bias and political assumption, finally, meet in an analytical conundrum. Structural biases dictate that newspapers print stories that will be read. But does the press publish a story because readers have been previously conditioned to accept and believe such accounts, or does it publish the story because of its conviction that it represents political truth?

“In Journalism, “bias” is a word with many meanings” - is a GMAT reading comprehension exercise. Candidates need to be highly proficient in GMAT reading comprehension. There are 7 comprehension questions in this GMAT reading comprehension section.

The purpose of the GMAT Reading Comprehension questions is to evaluate candidates' comprehension, analysis, and application skills. Candidates who are actively preparing can benefit from GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

Question 1: Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

1. The business decisions necessary to the successful practice of journalism lead to inherent biases.
2. The American public demands simplistic, dramatic stories that are the result of poor journalism.
3. The way in which journalists report on campaign finance is inherently biased by two factors.
4. Systematic factors and political assumptions should supplant conventional political divisions in the analysis of journalistic bias.
5. Only journalists working for non-profit organizations can avoid bias in reporting on campaign finance and other political issues.

Question 2: According to the passage, which of the following would demonstrate structural biases inherent in journalists' work?

1. An article that adheres loyally to Progressivist dictates
2. An article that successfully masks its biased opinions
3. An article that is entertaining and easily understood

1. I only
2. II only
3. III only
4. I and II
5. II and III

Question 3: The author suggests in the passage that the American system of campaign finance:

1. is unjust and should be reformed
2. has exclusively served the interests of the wealthy
3. is an easy target for journalists
4. has been unfairly singled out for criticism by politicians
5. can never overcome its inherent biases

Question 4: Which of the following best describes the "analytical conundrum" referred to in the fourth paragraph?

1. Newspapers cynically promote Progressive ideas in which they do not believe.
2. It is difficult to distinguish the roles of structural biases and political assumptions in publishing decisions.
3. Structural biases and political assumptions exert confiding pressures on newspaper publishers.
4. Readers’ preference for dramatic news accounts reflecting Progressive ideas determine what is published
5. Structural biases are rooted in journalism's professional norms.

Question 5: The author suggests that structural biases in American journalism result primarily from:

1. problems intrinsic to the publishing and marketing of newspapers.
2. assumptions by journalists about the integrity of public officials.
3. reporters’ cynicism about the public’s level of intelligence.
4. growing competition among newspapers for a shrinking audience.
5. the liberal biases generally found in publishing and broadcast media.

Question 6: The author would most probably agree that the media’s evaluation of the effects of PACs on public officials is

1. fair minded
2. sophisticated
3. uniformed
4. simplistic
5. mistaken

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