Objective: You will explore how media bias shows up on social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, etc.) by connecting the AllSides Media Bias Chart to real-world content. Instead of writing, you will create a short video project that analyzes examples and explains your thinking.
Video Requirements
Record a video of yourself explaining media bias.
You must be visibly present in the entire video presentation.
Media Bias in Action
Media Bias Chart (AllSides Media):
Explain how media bias works and discuss how it can shape public understanding of major events.
Begin by reviewing and explaining the AllSides Media Bias Chart (above).
Rhetorical Analysis
- Select at least five outlets (at least one from each position) on the AllSides chart (Left, Lean Left, Center, Lean Right, Right).
- Summarize how each outlet portrays one of the following:
- the Epstein Files
- Donal Trump posted a video of Michelle and Barack Obama being portrayed as monkeys: Late on February 5, 2026 (during Black History Month), President Trump’s Truth Social account shared a roughly one-minute video promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Near the end (around the 59-second mark), it included a brief clip—described as AI-generated or from an internet meme—superimposing the faces of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama onto the bodies of cartoon apes/monkeys, set to music like “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” This imagery drew on a long-standing racist trope dehumanizing Black people by comparing them to primates.
- ICE Shooting and Killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis (January 2026): During an immigration enforcement operation, federal ICE officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and Minneapolis nurse, amid protests against mass deportations. The incident sparked widespread outrage over civil rights violations, with accusations of excessive force and racial profiling. Stephen Miller, a key Trump aide, publicly labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist” on social media, intensifying debates on law enforcement accountability and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
- Identify rhetorical strategies (ethos, pathos, logos, framing, diction, tone, etc.) used by each outlet.
Street Journalists
Explore how independent journalists, YouTubers, TikTok creators, or other non-traditional “street journalists” are covering the story.
Compare their approaches to mainstream media, noting differences in tone, focus, or audience engagement.
Must have a minimum of 3 different view points
Public Response
Analyze how different segments of society are responding.
Look for commentary across age groups, political affiliations, and cultural communities.
Highlight how demographics shape reactions to the news.
5 Different examples of public response from people of various demographics and view points.
Lastly, detail how someone’s social media feed could make them lean one side over another. Why must everyone understand Media Rhetoric and Media Bias because of this?
Format Requirements:
- Submit via YouTube
- Final video should be 8–10 minutes total.You may use editing tools (iMovie, CapCut, Canva, etc.) or a simple recorded presentation (Zoom, Loom, etc.).Be creative: mix in visuals, captions, or even short skits if you want.
Evaluation Rubric
Why?
This assignment directly connects to our study of rhetoric, persuasion, and critical thinking. The AllSides Media Bias Chart is not just a tool for understanding media—it’s also a way to see how rhetorical strategies differ depending on political perspective. By examining the chart, you will learn to:
- Recognize how bias and framing shape arguments and influence audiences.
- Apply rhetorical concepts such as ethos, pathos, and logos to real-world contexts.
- Strengthen your ability to listen, analyze, and respond to arguments from across the political spectrum.
- Reflect on your own role as both a consumer of media and a participant in civic discourse.
In other words, this assignment pushes you to move beyond personal opinion and toward rhetorical awareness, a central goal of the course.
Submission Instructions
Upload your video to YouTube and submit the link on Blackboard. Make sure your video is at least 8- 10
minutes long and addresses each prompt fully.
● All videos must be uploaded to YouTube.
● You will submit the YouTube link to the video via Blackboard.
Your video should be a minimum 10 minutes long.
Important Notes:
○ The YouTube video must be uploaded before the assignment due date. If the video upload date is after the due date, it will result in an automatic 0.
○ Links that do not work or do not lead to the appropriate video will result in an automatic 0.
○ Videos that are taken down before the end of the semester (December 10) will result in an automatic 0.
○ Videos that require special permissions or access restrictions will result in an automatic 0.
Make sure the video is publicly accessible or set to “unlisted” to avoid access issues.
Jordan Wiggins 