It’s no secret that staying current with the news is an important ingredient to success as a business owner. No matter what your business is, you’re likely to make better decisions the more you know about what’s happening in your industry and the world in general. But in today’s polarized media environment, just reading the news isn’t enough anymore. Now, it’s all about how you read the news.
That’s because today more than ever, many news stories use sensationalism and opinion to grab our attention, and they sometimes read more like the tabloids than hard news. That may inspire us to click or buy, but it doesn’t necessarily inform us in an objective manner, which is presumably what the news is for.
We’re so used to seeing spun headlines that they’ve become the norm. We sometimes don’t even notice they’re distorted. But the more we can notice that they are and how they are, the more we can separate data from opinion, fact from fiction. That’s important because as business owners, we want to make decisions based on facts, not based on spin and bias.
Here are a few quick examples of distorted headlines so you can get the hang of how to find the spin. First, you’ll see the headline as it was published, then a brief summary of what the news was, and finally an explanation of the distortion (the spin is italicized for easy reference):
1. Paul Ryan Sees His Wild Washington Journey Coming to An End (Politico)
What was the news? Paul Ryan reportedly told his “closest confidants” that he is in his final term as Speaker of the House.
How is the headline distorted? This may sound admissible at first, but “wild journey” is subjective and dramatic rather than data-based. This kind of phrase may sensationalize, but it doesn’t inform.
2. Rep. Adam Schiff Has Twitter Meltdown, Worries House Intel Russia Probe Will End Too Early (Breitbart)
What was the news? Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, tweeted about the investigation into allegations that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia. He wrote, “I’m increasingly worried Republicans will shut down the House Intelligence Committee investigation at the end of the month.”
How is the headline distorted? Is Schiff’s personal opinion a “meltdown” or is he just expressing his concerns? This is sensational and doesn’t inspire confidence in Schiff’s leadership.
3. ‘A Jedi You Are NOT’: Mark Hamill slams light saber-wielding FCC chairman over net neutrality (The Washington Post)
What was the news? On Dec. 16, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai released a video called, “7 things you can still do on the Internet after net neutrality.” In one scene, he held a lightsaber as “Star Wars” music played in the background. Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars,” tweeted comments in response to the video, criticizing the scene and Pai’s use of a lightsaber. Hamill used the hashtag: “#AJediYouAreNOT.”
How is the headline distorted? This headline likely attracted clicks from “Star Wars” fans, but there’s no news here.
4. Trump predicts exoneration in Russia investigation as allies fear a ‘meltdown’ (CNN)
What was the news? CNN reported on Dec. 18 that President Trump “privately seemed less frustrated about the Russia investigation, according to multiple sources who have spoken with the president.”
How is the headline distorted? Reading this, you might think a bunch of Trump administration officials said the president might have a “meltdown.” But CNN doesn’t back this up. In its article, the network quotes one anonymous source, not multiple allies, saying this. It seems the “meltdown” comment was cherry-picked for the headline.
5. Inside Trump’s hour-by-hour battle for self-preservation (The New York Times)
What was the news? This is a Times report on the president’s daily activities, including the time he supposedly wakes up, his news consumption habits and his tweeting.
How is the headline distorted? Is Trump battling to preserve himself from harm or destruction on an hourly basis? What does that imply about the president?
Read more: Three Key Spin Words and Why They Matter