Types of Information
Opinion Journalism: Opinion journalism is intended to express a point of view to provoke discussion or persuade the reader one way or another. Often the author will use “I” statements and clearly include their personal view. They can be editorials, letters to the editor and columns in newspapers.
News Journalism: News journalism is meant to inform rather than persuade the reader. It will have multiple viewpoints (usually not the author’s) and includes fact-based evidence.
Lateral Reading: Lateral reading is a way to confront bias and misinformation in news. It involves searching for information on the new source in places other than the source’s website as well as reading about a topic from many different resources.
Tools for Understanding Media Bias
Newspaper Databases
- Catalog Newspapers SearchThe library catalog lets you search in many newspapers. You can use this link, or you can click "Newspapers search" at the bottom of your normal search results page.
- Global Newsstream This link opens in a new windowThis database has access to even more newspaper sources than the library catalog, and can filter in very similar ways.
- Access World NewsA new source that lets you access and search through lots of different news articles from around the world. It's great for doing automatic advanced keyword searches based on popular topics.
New York Times
- New York Times Website This link opens in a new window
This link opens in a new window
1. Before you get started - make sure you're on campus. It also works better in Google Chrome than other browsers
2. Search Loyola, and make sure to select the Loyola in Chicago
3. From there, create an account, selecting student.
4. Use your Loyola email and a password of your choice
Notes: You have to renew once a year to keep your free access. They will auto-subscribe you to a daily newsletter summarizing the news for the day. If you don’t want this, unsubscribe with the link at the bottom of the first email
Wall Street Journal
- Wall Street Journal This link opens in a new window1. Login with your Loyola account. It should direct you to another page
2. This page will probably autofill with some of your information. Fill in all the rest
3. Select account type Student
4. Choose any password
5. Uncheck the top checkbox if you don’t want to get Wall Street Journal emails in your Loyola inbox
6. Check the bottom checkbox, and continue
7. It might redirect you to login again, just go to wsj.com and you should be good to go
Washington Post
- Washington Post (website) This link opens in a new window1. Make sure you're using Google Chrome
2. Click "Sign In" (in the corner)
3. Click "Sign Up" (at the bottom)
4. Put in your Loyola email address,
5. When you agree to the privacy policy, click the checkbox and click to go forward
7. Make a password of your choosing
8. Sign up
9. You should get an email asking for verification after this at your Loyola inbox. Click the link in that email to verify your email