Bias: Propaganda, and What isn't Bias

This is an important area for any documentary maker.

We've talked, when watching documentaries, a lot about the truth.

I think we've agreed we all like to watch documentaries more, if they feel truthful.

One of the things that kills truth is bias.

Bias, quite simply is when a documentary presents a point, an argument, a set of facts, from a point of view that is heavily controlled by the film maker.

It results in a piece of work that is biased to one side of an argument.

The other potential word for a biased piece of work is Propaganda.

Here's some very clever people to explain why bias exists.  From their point of view.





LIBERAL MEDIA BIAS ARGUMENT IS MAYBE NOTHING BUT A RUSE!


It's an interesting point that Chomsky makes. You'll hear a lot about the media having a liberal bias. But what he is saying is that that very argument is even more fakery, designed for you to not think about the more important argument which is who is making my news/programmes/films, and what is there point of view and why am I watching them!


BIT OF BUSH

George Bush kind of backs up the ideas with his own view about presenting truth.




This next film might be OTT for nowadays, but it succiently explains what propaganda is, when its presented as facts!  Worth bearing in mind, this was presented as a NEWSREEL, a factual film.





Is bias so bad?

Some journalists think so!  Some don't!

Check out: http://biased-bbc.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Today%20programme


REASONS FOR BIAS

So, listen to norm and the basis of all bias from within the media is the necessity of large interests wanting to keep you docile and not ask any questions.

Way to do that - make you watch rubbish that either nulls your brain, makes you defeated or powerless, or presents such a persuasive argument the other way that you can't fight it and your own mind is made up for you.

Hmm.

The truth is probably you are ALREADY biased, since for all of your life you've been watching films and tv without thinking much (at this age anyway) of where they come from and whether or not they are truthful. Which, you know what, is fine.

However, now you're considering a career in the industry you need to look at honestly how YOU might be biased and how that would effect what you make.


HOW YOU MIGHT BE BIASED

- you watch a lot of biased programmes - you'll make what you watch. (you are what you eat).
- you want your documentary to be 'liked' - so you'll make it 'nice' and 'sweet'.
- you don't know enough about your subject so you regurgitate the same old stuff.
- you're lazy.

These, and other factors, like your upbringing, economic background, etc, will lead to bias.




KINDS OF BIAS IN FACTUAL TV

Here's a nice list of how you can be biased. Without even knowing it!

http://www.fairpress.org/identify.htm




WHAT ISN'T BIAS

- Well, your opinion, if you make it clear its your opinion, isn't biased. That is, if you make it clear its your opinion, and not massively factual. Probably the reason why participatory documentaries have risen in popularity is the notion that the film maker cannot be accused of bias if you can see what kind of person they are and therefore what kind of film they would be likely to make. In other words, you know the reactions you are getting, and therefore believe them.