There is so much going on in the world these days! Luckily, we have some guides to help you get started with research on timely topics.

When you are researching current issues a great place to start are newspapers. Newspapers and other media outlets report on the important events of the day. Just remember that what is important to one group or locality may not be so important to others or may be viewed differently by people who identify with different groups.

Isn’t it the worst when you’ve reached your monthly limit on free articles from a newspaper? We’ve got good news! You can use the library to access current issues of The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and MORE!

What about bias in the media?

Yes, it is a thing. At its root, bias is a preference for one thing over another. In conscious and unconscious forms bias exists everywhere. Media bias presents itself in what stories are chosen to be told, how those stories are framed, and whose voices are featured. While reputable journalists and news outlets try to report the news with accuracy, fairness, impartiality, and accountability, some #fakenews outlets use emotional language, inaccurate portrayals, and lies to increase clicks, likes, and favorites.

So how can you prevent bias in your own research?

As you are researching your topic ask yourself, what perspectives are being favored? What perspectives are missing? Why? How can you add missing perspectives to your paper? If you’re interested in learning more, we’ve created a media literacy guide to help!

Chose an option to move forward.

Option 1: Next, to the end!