ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with two types of bias: cultural bias and partisan bias. Cultural bias relates to the fact that every political story is rooted in a certain time and place. Partisan bias, on the other hand, appears, at first glance, much easier to spot. It is certainly a major issue for public debate, with countless columns and books ruthlessly attacking the news media for their slanted reporting. When political activists construct and promote a frame and that frame is then picked up by the various forms of media, it can have a real impact on elites and public opinion. Many political activists have accused the mainstream media of bias, but, unsurprisingly, they do not agree on the direction. American conservatives believe that the media slant dramatically toward the liberal side of the spectrum, while some liberals think the media promote conservative and big-business values.
