Good communication demands commonly understood definitions of words. Without using the same definitions, the people who are trying to communicate talk past each other, not realizing they are not talking about the same thing even though they are using the same words!
Bias: means favoring something in a way that is unfair. People can make fast judgments based on personal prejudice and worldview.
Columnists/Pundits give commentary on current issues from their point of view. Reputable ones use verifiable facts to form their opinions. It is important to seek out a variety of opinions on a subject to keep a balanced perspective. Just verify the facts they use to form their opinions.
Conspiracy theory:
“A conspiracy theory is an explanation of an event that claims it was the result of a secret and often complex and evil plot by multiple people…. But conspiracy theorists don’t usually treat such theories as just guesses—they often promote them as fact, no matter how bizarre or far-fetched they may be. Most conspiracy theories involve supposedly secret knowledge of the supposedly secret and evil dealings of powerful people, especially politicians, government officials, billionaires, and celebrities. Such plots are often claimed to have the goal of controlling world events and ordinary people.” Dictionary.com
Credible means the information makes sense, is reasonable and trustworthy.
Disinformation is “deliberately misleading or biased information; manipulated narrative or facts; propaganda.” Dictionary.com. Propaganda is disinformation created to make someone or something look better or worse than they are, usually to persuade people to a point of view.
Journalistic Standards:https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/commstudies/ethics The “rules” that reputable news agencies use.
Media silos (sometimes called echo chambers) are customized news sources that affirm one’s biases. Some have a liberal bias and some have a conservative bias. People close off sources that challenge their thinking and choose only those that confirm rather than inform them. These habits create attitudes of “us vs. them”, much like the win/lose of sports competitions. This is the opposite of what our country was founded upon. Our whole system of government depends on the ability of people to listen and try to understand another point of view. It also depends on people to acknowledge their “team” doesn’t have all the answers and to compromise when necessary to serve the larger good, not just exist to score points for their “team” or to keep the other “team” from scoring any points.
Misinformation is “false information that is spread, regardless of intent to mislead.” Dictionary.com
Reliable means the source uses journalistic standards and has an editorial board. These sources can be biased but are much more trustworthy than something found on the open Internet or social media. If your favorite news source doesn’t post their journalistic standards or have an editorial board, you will want to be very skeptical about the information they publish.
Reporters and Journalists: though not the same, they both work to inform the public about events. News stories are expected to be based on verifiable facts. Through the process of writing, a reporter’s or journalist’s bias may sometimes appear through emotional, loaded words. It is up to the reader or listener to sift out the facts from the opinion or bias. A credible, reliable story will present a variety of viewpoints. The best will give reasons/evidence for supporters and critics’ views.