Comments on: Fairspin Teases Out The Bias In Political News http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:40:05 -0800 hourly 1 By: Where Do You Get Your News? | Still Indie http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2724629 Where Do You Get Your News? | Still Indie Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:32:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2724629 [...] journalists.  Some web sites offer efforts to cut through, or at least acknowledge and help navigate that bias.  What sources of news do you trust or [...] [...] journalists.  Some web sites offer efforts to cut through, or at least acknowledge and help navigate that bias.  What sources of news do you trust or [...]

]]> By: pc repair http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2713996 pc repair Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:21:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2713996 I agree, mostly. The best you can hope for would be to identify the mean of the people who visit the site. However, I do think that the people who would be interested in using the service I agree, mostly. The best you can hope for would be to identify the mean of the people who visit the site. However, I do think that the people who would be interested in using the service

]]> By: Stephen Hood http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2709374 Stephen Hood Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:18:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2709374 Hi everyone -- Thanks for trying it out and sharing your thoughts. Plenty of good points raised. We've tried to address some of the big ones on our blog, here: http://blog.fairspin.org/post/98714499/good-questions-and-some-answers Thanks again for the feedback; we're listening. Hi everyone — Thanks for trying it out and sharing your thoughts. Plenty of good points raised. We’ve tried to address some of the big ones on our blog, here:

http://blog.fai...nd-some-answers

Thanks again for the feedback; we’re listening.

]]> By: RickM http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2708933 RickM Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:44:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2708933 I am to believe that its a "fair spin" when they position the New York Times and the Washington Post in the middle of the political spectrum? The axis has shifted quite a bit since the election, but not that much. I am to believe that its a “fair spin” when they position the New York Times and the Washington Post in the middle of the political spectrum?

The axis has shifted quite a bit since the election, but not that much.

]]> By: KillerStartups.com - FairSpin.org - All The Political News In The Same Place http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2708813 KillerStartups.com - FairSpin.org - All The Political News In The Same Place Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:23:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2708813 <strong>FairSpin.org - All The Political News In The Same Place...</strong> I found your entry interesting do I've added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)... FairSpin.org – All The Political News In The Same Place…

I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :) …

]]> By: Tom http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2708211 Tom Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:33:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2708211 This is going to fail. People will vote based upon their own bias. Period. And, from what I've seen, people with enough time on their hands (*cough cough*) to comment on things on the internet tend to lean left. This is going to fail. People will vote based upon their own bias. Period. And, from what I’ve seen, people with enough time on their hands (*cough cough*) to comment on things on the internet tend to lean left.

]]> By: Google News Timeline Offers A New Way To Search The Past « shankarsoma; Change the View http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707877 Google News Timeline Offers A New Way To Search The Past « shankarsoma; Change the View Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:01:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707877 [...] You can also switch the calendar to view stories by day, week, month, year, or decade. But why not by the hour or the minute? That is where Google news is weakest and losing out to Twitter search, in my opinion. Finally, to put a finer filter on it, you can search only news quotes, news videos, blogs, magazines, newspapers, Wikipedia, or various other sources. Maybe it could add a bias filter. [...] [...] You can also switch the calendar to view stories by day, week, month, year, or decade. But why not by the hour or the minute? That is where Google news is weakest and losing out to Twitter search, in my opinion. Finally, to put a finer filter on it, you can search only news quotes, news videos, blogs, magazines, newspapers, Wikipedia, or various other sources. Maybe it could add a bias filter. [...]

]]> By: Larry Freeman http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707548 Larry Freeman Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:43:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707548 I appreciate that if I tell you I'm a political junkie, you think that I know everything. :-) I just meant that I am fascinated at hearing both sides of an issue, figuring out people's biases, and trying to actually figure out the best course of action. I agree with you that these sites are not perfect and there is room for improvement. I'm only suggesting that for a certain market (such as myself), these sites are very interesting. I appreciate that if I tell you I’m a political junkie, you think that I know everything. :-)

I just meant that I am fascinated at hearing both sides of an issue, figuring out people’s biases, and trying to actually figure out the best course of action.

I agree with you that these sites are not perfect and there is room for improvement.

I’m only suggesting that for a certain market (such as myself), these sites are very interesting.

]]> By: Eric http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707467 Eric Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:19:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707467 If you're a political junkie, shouldn't u already know the biases? Plus, the site doesn't tell you which way a story is leaning? It only starts off that way. People have to vote on it to see which way its leaning. The problem with this starts with a bunch of ultra cons voting on liberal con stories as liberal......... If you’re a political junkie, shouldn’t u already know the biases?

Plus, the site doesn’t tell you which way a story is leaning? It only starts off that way. People have to vote on it to see which way its leaning. The problem with this starts with a bunch of ultra cons voting on liberal con stories as liberal………

]]> By: inthewoods http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707342 inthewoods Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:02:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707342 If you're a political junkie, you already know the biases - again, I just don't see who this product serves. Looking at the other similar sites listed, I would never bother to visit any of them again. If you’re a political junkie, you already know the biases – again, I just don’t see who this product serves. Looking at the other similar sites listed, I would never bother to visit any of them again.

]]> By: The Far Edge » Blog Archive » Google News Timeline Offers A New Way To Search The Past http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707325 The Far Edge » Blog Archive » Google News Timeline Offers A New Way To Search The Past Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:55:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707325 [...] You can also switch the calendar to view stories by day, week, month, year, or decade. But why not by the hour or the minute? That is where Google news is weakest and losing out to Twitter search, in my opinion. Finally, to put a finer filter on it, you can search only news quotes, news videos, blogs, magazines, newspapers, Wikipedia, or various other sources. Maybe it could add a bias filter. [...] [...] You can also switch the calendar to view stories by day, week, month, year, or decade. But why not by the hour or the minute? That is where Google news is weakest and losing out to Twitter search, in my opinion. Finally, to put a finer filter on it, you can search only news quotes, news videos, blogs, magazines, newspapers, Wikipedia, or various other sources. Maybe it could add a bias filter. [...]

]]> By: Mrktmind http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707299 Mrktmind Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:40:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707299 I think a better (or at least an add-on) site would be one that digs out political spins in regular TV shows and movies. I believe a site that did that could become a resource and gain a fairly large traffic share. Everyone already knows (at least those that are capable of knowing) that all the political news sites push their own flavor of propaganda. I think a better (or at least an add-on) site would be one that digs out political spins in regular TV shows and movies. I believe a site that did that could become a resource and gain a fairly large traffic share. Everyone already knows (at least those that are capable of knowing) that all the political news sites push their own flavor of propaganda.

]]> By: Larry Freeman http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707286 Larry Freeman Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:29:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707286 It's more information. It's really up to you if you need it or not. Many writers make their biases clear. People should realize immediately that David Brooks, Peggy Noonan, and Sean Hannity are to the right. But how much to the right? For example, Sean Hannity and Michele Malkin probably see Peggy Noonan and David Brooks as closet moderates. While, Robert Reich, Paul Krugman, and Cokie Roberts are all liberals, how liberal are they? Are they as liberal as MoveOn.org (as many conservatives would suggest) or are they more moderate? Bill O'Reilly used to say he was against the death penalty (I haven't watched the show in years so I have no idea if he's still against it). Ann Coulter is good friends with Bill Maher (she used to appear all the time on Politically Incorrect). If you are a political junkie like me, then web sites that call out all the biases can really help. It’s more information. It’s really up to you if you need it or not.

Many writers make their biases clear. People should realize immediately that David Brooks, Peggy Noonan, and Sean Hannity are to the right. But how much to the right? For example, Sean Hannity and Michele Malkin probably see Peggy Noonan and David Brooks as closet moderates.

While, Robert Reich, Paul Krugman, and Cokie Roberts are all liberals, how liberal are they? Are they as liberal as MoveOn.org (as many conservatives would suggest) or are they more moderate? Bill O’Reilly used to say he was against the death penalty (I haven’t watched the show in years so I have no idea if he’s still against it). Ann Coulter is good friends with Bill Maher (she used to appear all the time on Politically Incorrect).

If you are a political junkie like me, then web sites that call out all the biases can really help.

]]> By: Shane OGorman http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707248 Shane OGorman Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:13:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707248 One other thing I would add is as others have suggested that the political spectrum is a spectrum and not a neat divide of left to right. I consider most democrats to be conservatives. Even Obama is a conservative by any measure unless you are Fox news of course. I dont think we have had any modern liberal presidents. I also think most news "liberal" news outlets are mostly just democrat outlets, few being truly liberal. I guess this is coming from a way way left view point. But the same could be said of conservatives many whom would not want to be associated with the likes of Fox news and consider that just to be a propaganda machine rather than the mouth piece of the conservative movement. Not every conservative considers what Fox does to be conservative nor is every mainstream conservative issue such as stopping gay rights something that every conservative feels should be an issue. One other thing I would add is as others have suggested that the political spectrum is a spectrum and not a neat divide of left to right. I consider most democrats to be conservatives. Even Obama is a conservative by any measure unless you are Fox news of course. I dont think we have had any modern liberal presidents. I also think most news “liberal” news outlets are mostly just democrat outlets, few being truly liberal. I guess this is coming from a way way left view point. But the same could be said of conservatives many whom would not want to be associated with the likes of Fox news and consider that just to be a propaganda machine rather than the mouth piece of the conservative movement. Not every conservative considers what Fox does to be conservative nor is every mainstream conservative issue such as stopping gay rights something that every conservative feels should be an issue.

]]> By: Shane OGorman http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707245 Shane OGorman Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:08:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707245 Why not just simply teach people how to recognize bias. If they can think for themselves it would seem far more important than telling someone what to think. Why not just simply teach people how to recognize bias. If they can think for themselves it would seem far more important than telling someone what to think.

]]> By: Matt S http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707199 Matt S Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:37:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707199 Interesting experiment but voters will be very self-selecting as mentioned above. Also, FWIW, Stephen Hood was an Obama donor: http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Hood&fname=Stephen Interesting experiment but voters will be very self-selecting as mentioned above. Also, FWIW, Stephen Hood was an Obama donor:

http://fundrace...p;fname=Stephen

]]> By: david http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707189 david Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:30:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707189 Exactly. When I read above "...NY times stories in the middle" I literally laughed out loud. C-Span is in the middle and that's pretty much it. Exactly. When I read above “…NY times stories in the middle” I literally laughed out loud.

C-Span is in the middle and that’s pretty much it.

]]> By: inthewoods http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707172 inthewoods Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:20:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707172 My question is so what? What does this do for me? It doesn't surface, particularly well, articles I haven't seen - but would I really be unclear on the biases in the stories just based on the websites from which they come? Do I really need to know that Michelle Malkin is a right-wing article writer? That's not exactly shocking news.... My question is so what? What does this do for me? It doesn’t surface, particularly well, articles I haven’t seen – but would I really be unclear on the biases in the stories just based on the websites from which they come? Do I really need to know that Michelle Malkin is a right-wing article writer? That’s not exactly shocking news….

]]> By: Larry Freeman http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707169 Larry Freeman Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:18:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707169 My favorite site for handling this is: http://skewz.com The site divides all news sources into left-bias or right-bias news. My favorite site for handling this is:
http://skewz.com

The site divides all news sources into left-bias or right-bias news.

]]> By: PeterC http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707166 PeterC Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:17:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707166 Isn't this exactly what NewsCred is doing? Or NewsTrust? Isn’t this exactly what NewsCred is doing? Or NewsTrust?

]]> By: Lou Natick http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707134 Lou Natick Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:52:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707134 A simple left-to-right spectrum has to be a vast oversimplification of the political biases of various news sources. A simple left-to-right spectrum has to be a vast oversimplification of the political biases of various news sources.

]]> By: The Tech Town » Google News Timeline Offers A New Way To Search The Past http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707131 The Tech Town » Google News Timeline Offers A New Way To Search The Past Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:50:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707131 [...] You can also switch the calendar to view stories by day, week, month, year, or decade. But why not by the hour or the minute? That is where Google news is weakest and losing out to Twitter search, in my opinion. Finally, to put a finer filter on it, you can search only news quotes, news videos, blogs, magazines, newspapers, Wikipedia, or various other sources. Maybe it could add a bias filter. [...] [...] You can also switch the calendar to view stories by day, week, month, year, or decade. But why not by the hour or the minute? That is where Google news is weakest and losing out to Twitter search, in my opinion. Finally, to put a finer filter on it, you can search only news quotes, news videos, blogs, magazines, newspapers, Wikipedia, or various other sources. Maybe it could add a bias filter. [...]

]]> By: Reid http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707127 Reid Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:49:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707127 At the very least, it's going to take a while to get a relatively accurate idea of what slants what way. But even then...there's a lot of people who would laugh at the idea of the Washington Post being in the middle, and I know conservatives who think that the opposite of Rush Limbaugh is NPR. Maybe there are enough people with a truly unbiased point of view to give Fairspin an accurate point of view, but...good luck. At the very least, it’s going to take a while to get a relatively accurate idea of what slants what way. But even then…there’s a lot of people who would laugh at the idea of the Washington Post being in the middle, and I know conservatives who think that the opposite of Rush Limbaugh is NPR.

Maybe there are enough people with a truly unbiased point of view to give Fairspin an accurate point of view, but…good luck.

]]> By: Google News Timeline Offers A New Way To Search The Past | TechBeat|Gather Tech News http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707125 Google News Timeline Offers A New Way To Search The Past | TechBeat|Gather Tech News Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:48:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707125 [...] The timeline view gives you a snapshot of the major stories for each day, and you can drag the dates across to go back in time. If you want to zero in on a particular topic, you can search for that term to see how a story has evolved over time. You can also switch the calendar to view stories by day, week, month, year, or decade. Finally, to put a finer filter on it, you can search only news quotes, news videos, blogs, magazines, newspapers, Wikipedia, or various other sources. Maybe it could add a bias filter. [...] [...] The timeline view gives you a snapshot of the major stories for each day, and you can drag the dates across to go back in time. If you want to zero in on a particular topic, you can search for that term to see how a story has evolved over time. You can also switch the calendar to view stories by day, week, month, year, or decade. Finally, to put a finer filter on it, you can search only news quotes, news videos, blogs, magazines, newspapers, Wikipedia, or various other sources. Maybe it could add a bias filter. [...]

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="502252258">Michael Grandfield</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/fairspin-teases-out-the-bias-in-political-news/comment-page-1/#comment-2707107 Michael Grandfield Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:36:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=57884#comment-2707107 I agree, mostly. The best you can hope for would be to identify the mean of the people who visit the site. However, I do think that the people who would be interested in using the service ostensibly would be more interested in the middle than the left or the right, since they're probably the most interested in identifying media bias. I agree, mostly. The best you can hope for would be to identify the mean of the people who visit the site. However, I do think that the people who would be interested in using the service ostensibly would be more interested in the middle than the left or the right, since they’re probably the most interested in identifying media bias.

]]>