Is that News 'Fake' or Simply Biased?

PositionMASS MEDIA

In an era of concern over "fake news," a study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin finds that people draw a distinction between information sources that are dishonest and those that are biased. A source seen as biased may lose credibility with people, even if they believe the source is scrupulously honest. That means untruthful--or "fake"--news is not the only issue for consumers. "If you want to be seen as a credible source, you have to be objective, as well as honest and knowledgeable," says lead study author Laura Wallace, postdoctoral researcher in psychology at Ohio State University, Columbus.

The findings are significant because most research has suggested that source credibility is a combination of trustworthiness and expertise. Bias had not been considered, or at least was viewed as part of trustworthiness.

Bias may damage credibility, just as untrustworthiness does., but that does not mean that bias and untrustworthiness always have the same consequences. "In the case of biased but honest sources, the information they present might only support one side of the issue, but at least people can treat the information as useful for understanding that side.

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