Final answer:
Altering the public's reaction to a story by reporting it with supportive facts and a specific viewpoint is known as framing, a form of media bias. This technique can shape people's perceptions by creating a certain narrative around the news reported. Media can influence public opinion by engaging in practices that confirm pre-existing beliefs, known as confirmation bias.
Step-by-step explanation:
Altering the public's reaction to a story by reporting it together with facts that support a particular interpretation is known as framing. The media does this by highlighting certain events and then placing them within a particular context to encourage or discourage certain interpretations. Framing is a type of media bias, where broadcast and print media choose what to report and the manner in which they report it, significantly impacting how we perceive and understand the world. They might include more sources that support one view over another, or use particular experts to give weight to their favored argument. The outcome is that the public is steered towards a specific perspective, consciously or unconsciously shaping their view on a particular issue.
An example of this framing would be two news channels reporting the same event in different lights. One channel might present a policy in a positive manner, attracting viewers who support that view, while the other channel might cast the policy negatively, aligning with viewers who oppose it. Both utilize framing to craft a narrative that resonates with their target audience, rather than providing an unbiased account. This demonstrates how even general newscasts can affect citizen perspectives through the creation of a narrative or context for a news story.
Seeking out information that supports our pre-existing beliefs or stereotypes is a cognitive bias known as confirmation bias. This is where people favor information that confirms their existing beliefs and dismiss information that contradicts them. It is a common human tendency that can be reinforced by framed media content.