AMBR is an independent website created to help readers understand and recognise the bias in the news stories they access via the Internet.
Media has become increasingly polarised over the last 10 years with most media outlets now taking an identifiable political position on most topics.
In particular in Australia there are constant claims the media outlets owned by News Corp carry a consistent right-wing bias. This is sometimes countered by claims of left-wing bias against media outlets such as the ABC , The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. AMBR attempts to put those claims to the test. In order to evaluate bias AMBR has developed a set of objective criteria to determine the bias within media articles.
Each article is evaluated by reference to the following criteria:
1. Does the headline indicate support or criticism of a left or right wing position? (with reference to the criteria below)
2. Does the article include emotive or pejorative language designed to influence the reader?
3. Is the article primarily presenting facts?
4. Is the article primarily presenting an opinion?
5. Is the article critical of a left-wing idea or party?
6. Is the article critical of a right-wing idea or party?
7. Does the article support a left-wing idea or party?
8. Does the article support a right-wing idea or party?
9. Is the article designed to influence you to take a position or form an opinion?
10. Does the article quote think-tanks and if so, which ones ?
11. Does the article quote a politician at length without questioning or challenging their statements or claims?
12. Does the article omit relevant information about the topic ?
13. If a survey is quoted, who conducted the survey, what questions were asked and who was surveyed ?