In a recent statement at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Annual Convention & Career Fair on July 31, 2024, former President Donald Trump sparked controversy by asserting that immigrants are taking “Black jobs” and questioning Vice-President Kamala Harris’s racial identity. In response, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles tweeted, “I love my Black job,” which gained significant media attention and prompted various news outlets to cover the story differently.
The incident provides an interesting case study of how different media outlets cover stories at the intersection of sports, politics, and race.
A series of bias analyses conducted on articles from various news sources reveals intriguing patterns in the framing, language, and overall approach to reporting this story. From major newspapers to online publications, the coverage shows a range of bias levels and editorial choices that shed light on the current state of political and cultural journalism in America.
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During the NABJ convention, Trump argued with journalists, including ABC’s Rachel Scott, who asked why Black voters should trust him given his past rhetoric. Trump’s remarks included questioning Harris’s heritage and claiming that immigrants are taking jobs from Black Americans. These comments led to immediate backlash from various quarters, including the White House, where Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned Trump’s statements as “repulsive and insulting.”
Our analysis reveals how different media outlets scored on their coverage of Biles’ comment, reflecting the varied perspectives and biases in reporting. This report aims to provide a comprehensive view of the media landscape regarding this incident, highlighting how bias can shape public perception and understanding of significant events.
Bias Scores for Coverage
- AP: 78 Simone Biles says she loves her ‘black job,’ an apparent clapback at Donald Trump
- Forbes: 78 ‘I Love My Black Job’: Simone Biles Takes Apparent Jab At Trump After Winning Gold
- The Guardian: 75 ‘I love my black job’: Simone Biles mocks Trump’s offensive panel remarks
- NBC: 65 ‘I love my black job’: Simone Biles appears to take a jab at Trump after Olympic win
- FOX: 65 Simone Biles on winning another gold: ‘I love my Black job’
- Daily Beast: 65 Simone Biles Appears to Troll Trump: ‘I Love My Black Job’
- The Independent: 42 Simone Biles trolls Trump after making Olympic history: ‘I love my Black job’
Observations of the Scores
After reviewing the above data on media coverage of Simone Biles’ comment, we have a few observations. As a reminder, this is an unscientific analysis from the outside. While we do make every attempt to be impartial in article and outlet selection, if there are articles you believe should have been included, please send them to us on social media or through our Contact Us form.
- Balance attempts: Some outlets, like AP and Forbes, made efforts to provide balance by including multiple perspectives or Trump’s explanation.
- Bias Scores: The bias scores range from 42 to 78, with most outlets falling in the 65-78 range. This suggests an above-average level of bias across most coverage.
- Language choices: Many outlets used loaded language or sensationalist terms like “clapback,” “jab,” “troll,” or “swipe” to describe Biles’ comment, potentially amplifying the perceived conflict.
- Contextualization: Most articles provided context for Biles’ comment by referencing Trump’s earlier statements, but some were noted to lack multiple perspectives.
- The Independent’s coverage: This outlet received the lowest bias score (42), with the analysis noting “significant bias” in language choices and framing.
If you have any other observations, we would love to hear them as well. Following are the complete Bias Reports from all of the above articles.
AP: Simone Biles says she loves her ‘black job,’ an apparent clapback at Donald Trump
Bias Score™
78
Bias Detected:
Low/Medium
Bias Category:
Political bias, Racial bias
Examples:
1. “apparent clapback at Donald Trump” (editorializing)
2. “Trump’s remark angered critics, who called it racist and insulting” (highlighting negative reactions)
Context & Omissions:
Article is sufficiently thorough. It provides context for Biles’ comment, Trump’s original statement, and reactions from various parties. It also includes relevant background information about Biles’ recent Olympic performance.
Implicit Bias:
There is a slight implicit bias against Trump and his campaign, evident in the selection of quotes and framing of the issue.
Score Rationale:
The article presents a relatively balanced account of the situation, including direct quotes and context from multiple perspectives. However, there are instances of subtle editorializing, particularly in the framing of Trump’s comments and the reactions to them. The article does attempt to provide balance by including Trump’s explanation of his statement and mentioning that his campaign was contacted for comment. The bias detected is relatively mild and does not significantly distort the overall reporting of facts.
This analysis uses biaskllr/AI™ technology. Remember, no analysis is completely free of bias; this is provided for educational purposes only. © 2024 biaskllr/AI™.
Forbes: ‘I Love My Black Job’: Simone Biles Takes Apparent Jab At Trump After Winning Gold
Bias Score™
78
Bias Detected:
Low/Medium
Bias Category:
Political bias, Racial bias
Examples:
1. “apparent dig at former President Donald Trump” (loaded language)
2. “Trump comments earlier in the week for which he was criticized” (framing)
3. “Trump repeated his claim that immigrants are coming into the U.S. and ‘taking Black jobs'” (potentially oversimplifying complex issue)
Context & Omissions:
Article is sufficiently thorough. It provides context for Biles’ tweet by explaining Trump’s recent comments and the controversy surrounding them. It also includes responses from other parties, giving a balanced view of the situation.
Implicit Bias:
Slight implicit bias against Trump in the framing of his comments and reactions to them.
Score Rationale:
The article presents a relatively balanced view of the situation, providing context for both Biles’ tweet and Trump’s comments. However, there are instances of loaded language and framing that suggest a slight bias against Trump. The article does include multiple perspectives, including Trump’s own words and responses from other parties. The bias is not overwhelming, but it is present in subtle ways throughout the piece. The score reflects a generally fair article with some areas of improvement in neutral language and framing.
This analysis uses biaskllr/AI™ technology. Remember, no analysis is completely free of bias; this is provided for educational purposes only. © 2024 biaskllr/AI™.
The Guardian: ‘I love my black job’: Simone Biles mocks Trump’s offensive panel remarks
Bias Score™
75
Bias Detected:
Low/Medium
Bias Category:
Political bias, Framing bias
Examples:
1. “disastrous interview” (framing Trump’s appearance negatively)
2. “unmistakable takedown” (inferring intent in Biles’ post)
3. “gaffes and insults” (framing Trump’s comments negatively)
Context & Omissions:
Article is sufficiently thorough.
Implicit Bias:
The article implicitly favors a negative view of Trump’s comments and actions.
Score Rationale:
The article presents factual information about Trump’s comments and the reactions to them, including direct quotes. However, there is a noticeable bias in the language used to describe Trump’s interview and its reception. The article frames Trump’s comments negatively without providing his perspective or that of his supporters. While the bias is present, it’s not overwhelming, and the article does include multiple viewpoints and factual information. The score reflects a low to medium level of bias, primarily in the framing and word choice.
This analysis uses biaskllr/AI™ technology. Remember, no analysis is completely free of bias; this is provided for educational purposes only. © 2024 biaskllr/AI™.
NBC News: ‘I love my black job’: Simone Biles appears to take a jab at Trump after Olympic win
Bias Score™
65
Bias Detected:
Medium
Bias Category:
Political bias, Sensationalism
Examples:
1. “took a swipe at former President Donald Trump” (loaded language)
2. “Trump’s comments immediately sparked backlash” (emphasis on negative reaction)
Context & Omissions:
Article is sufficiently thorough. It provides context for Biles’ tweet by referencing Trump’s previous comments and includes additional related information about Sen. JD Vance’s past remarks.
Implicit Bias:
The article appears to have an implicit bias against Trump and Vance, focusing on controversial statements and negative reactions to them.
Score Rationale:
The article demonstrates a moderate level of bias, primarily through its language choices and framing. While it does provide context for the main story, the tone and selection of quotes lean towards a negative portrayal of Trump and Vance. The article focuses on controversy and conflict, potentially sensationalizing the issue. However, it does include direct quotes and some balancing information, which prevents it from receiving a lower score.
This analysis uses biaskllr/AI™ technology. Remember, no analysis is completely free of bias; this is provided for educational purposes only. © 2024 biaskllr/AI™.
Fox News: Simone Biles on winning another gold: ‘I love my Black job’
Bias Score™
65
Bias Detected:
Medium
Bias Category:
Political bias, Racial bias
Examples:
1. “celebratory post on Friday was enough to turn heads” (sensationalism)
2. “appeared to be a swipe at former President Trump” (interpretation without verification)
Context & Omissions:
Article is sufficiently thorough. It provides context for Biles’ statement by referencing Trump’s recent comments and includes direct quotes from both Biles and Trump.
Implicit Bias:
The article implicitly frames Biles’ comment as politically motivated without direct confirmation from her.
Score Rationale:
The article demonstrates a medium level of bias, primarily through its framing and interpretation of Simone Biles’ social media post. While it provides context by referencing Trump’s comments, it presents speculation about Biles’ intentions without confirmation. The article also uses some sensationalist language. However, it does include direct quotes and provides some balance by presenting Trump’s explanation of his comments. The bias is not severe enough to significantly distort the facts, but it does color the presentation of the information.
This analysis uses biaskllr/AI™ technology. Remember, no analysis is completely free of bias; this is provided for educational purposes only. © 2024 biaskllr/AI™.
Daily Beast: Simone Biles Appears to Troll Trump: ‘I Love My Black Job’
Bias Score™
65
Bias Detected:
Medium
Bias Category:
Political bias, Sensationalism
Examples:
1. “Trump’s warning that immigrants are stealing ‘Black jobs'” (Framing)
2. “Trump did not say at the debate what exactly a ‘Black job’ is” (Omission of context)
3. “The haters hate it, so I love that even more” (Emotional language)
Context & Omissions:
The article lacks full context of Trump’s statements about “Black jobs” and doesn’t provide his complete explanation. It also omits any counterarguments or alternative interpretations of Biles’ tweet.
Implicit Bias:
The article implies a negative view of Trump through its framing and language choices.
Score Rationale:
The article demonstrates a medium level of bias, primarily through its framing of Trump’s statements and the selective presentation of information. While it does include some direct quotes, the overall tone and structure of the article suggest a political lean against Trump. The use of sensationalist language and the framing of Biles’ tweet as a direct response to Trump, without clear evidence, further contribute to the bias. However, the article does include some factual information about Biles’ achievements, which balances the score somewhat.
This analysis uses biaskllr/AI™ technology. Remember, no analysis is completely free of bias; this is provided for educational purposes only. © 2024 biaskllr/AI™.
The Independent: Simone Biles trolls Trump after making Olympic history: ‘I love my Black job’
Bias Score™
42
Bias Detected:
Medium/High
Bias Category:
Political bias, Racial bias
Examples:
1. Simone Biles trolls Trump” – loaded language
2. “shocking remarks” – emotionally charged language
3. “unhinged comments” – subjective characterization
Context & Omissions:
The article focuses heavily on Trump’s comments without providing full context or his perspective. It omits any balancing viewpoints or explanations from Trump or his supporters.
Implicit Bias:
The article implicitly portrays Trump negatively while presenting Biles and critics of Trump more favorably.
Score Rationale:
The article demonstrates significant bias in its language choices, framing, and selective reporting. It uses emotionally charged terms to describe Trump’s comments and actions, while presenting Biles’ response uncritically. The piece lacks balance, omitting context or alternative viewpoints. However, it does include some direct quotes and factual information about Biles’ achievements, which prevents the score from being lower.
This analysis uses biaskllr/AI™ technology. Remember, no analysis is completely free of bias; this is provided for educational purposes only. © 2024 biaskllr/AI™.
