my biased blog post

How can one’s biases be traced back to a few influences? Is it not true that almost every media source we interact with on a daily basis helps one form opinions on just about everything, from one’s favorite restaurant to one’s stance on abortion. As a teenager living in the 21^st, media-saturated, century, I am constantly affronted with online news alerts, magazine articles, and advertisements on social media platforms, television, and billboards. In this digital age, everyone has an opinion on everything, and everyone has a Twitter account where they proclaim their opinion for the entire Interweb to see. 

            Many, many experiences, talk shows, overheard conversations, and rants from my father have deeply affected my biases. I have always thought that the people I care about and respect the most have the most influence on my opinions. My grandmother, for example, is one person that I have always looked up to for my whole life. Her opinions and biases have always had a big impact on me. I greatly respect her, and so I greatly respect her opinions. 

            My stance on gun control is that it should be greatly restricted. In my opinion, there is no reason why one person should own more than one gun. Every incident of gun violence in this country is one too many. Every person whose life is taken by a firearm, whether intentional or unintentional, is one life that will never be given back, and to me is a terrible tragedy. I was very touched by news stories of the aftermath of school shooting in the United States. Seeing a grief-stricken mother sobbing over the loss of a child whose life what ripped from them by a mentally ill teenager with a semi-automatic rifle solidified my bias towards stricter gun control. 

            If I were to write a story specifically disagreeing with my liberal stance on gun control, I believe I would be able to do so by keeping an open mind. Although I do have a very strong opinion on the subject, that does not prevent me from seeing both sides to the argument. I would focus on the facts of the story and actual information presented to me instead of emotionally investing in the subject matter. 

            It is immensely important to keep one’s personal bias out of reporting as it is the news writer’s job to inform the public with the cold hard facts. This unbiased reporting will also be effective in making whatever news or media outlet neutral and trusted by more of the general public. Some dismiss certain news websites, publications, channels, or networks because of their bias on certain issues.