Media Bias

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/peanut-butter-recall-mexico-company-expands-recall-salmonella-17373670?tab=9482931&section=1206834&playlist=1363932

                Recently there has been an outbreak of salmonella poisoning. The news video I found over the issue was at ABC. The salmonella outbreak has caused over 101 peanut butter products to be recalled and most people who were affected were under the age of 10. The news video is a “visual bias” because during the news clip it shows different scenes with peanut butter in it. With the video showing these scenes it gives an image to what is causing the outbreak and what to blame. Also, on the bottom of the screen during the video, there is banner which says “peanut butter recall spreads; are your children at risk?” With the media having this saying at the bottom of the screen throughout the whole video has the viewers’ reading it over and over again until they are worried about whether it is true or not. Another visual bias from the video clip is when it shows a picture listing that 30 cases have been reported in 19 states and that the people most affected by this outbreak were under the age of 10. By the news company putting this picture into the clip it shows the effects of the outbreak quickly, drawing the viewer into the story to see what is going on.

                The video is also another type of bias called “bad news bias.” The video says children under the age of 10 were affected. Most people only the watch the news to hear about the bad things going on in the world because they are more interesting than good news stories. With the bad news that children are being affected it causes more viewers to watch to see what is going on for example parents. Also, when the video mentions that over 101 peanut butter products are being recalled and the news reporter mentions that it made her want to throw out all of the items in her kitchen that contained peanut butter, it overdramatized the situation and made it appear worse than what it was. Those comments made it seem that every single thing that contained peanut butter was going to give you salmonella poisoning when that is not the case. Also, when the video talked about all the symptoms a person could have from salmonella poisoning, it makes people who have the flu or a simple cold think they have it.  This video clip overdramatized the situation to make it appear worse than what it was to get more viewers to watch the show.  

-Megan Grimes (419)