Identifying Bias in Tech Writing

One of the main goals of technical writing is objectivity. Tech writers often struggle with the decision between writing to make the audience happy, and telling the audience the whole truth. Like journalists, tech writers are expected to write transparently and free of bias.

What exactly is bias? Merriam-Webster defines it as a "bent" or "tendency." Another way to describe it is an "inclination of temperament or outlook; especially a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment." A not-so-pretty synonym is "prejudice." These definitions imply that a writer can be either purposefully biased, like when a writer speaks unfavorably of a rival product, or unintentionally biased, like when a writer may unconsciously downplay the lesser aspects of a product.

A good way to learn to identify bias in writing is by reading newspapers. Newspaper writing is, ideally, a prime mode of technical writing, because the writing must be concise, comprehensive, objective, and informative.

Take a look at the local papers in north Louisiana. Read a few articles, and in the comment section, discuss any instances of biased writing you may have found. Is the author favoring one viewpoint over another? If he or she not telling the "whole story?" Remember to copy-and-paste the link to the story at the top of your entry, so that I can look at it too.

Here are some local newspapers for you to investigate. Feel free to use other newspapers if you choose.
The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
The Daily Leader (Ruston, LA)