SpinSpotter

[Michael Covarrubias]

over at headsup the blog there's a look at this.
<http://headsuptheblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/kings-camelopard-or.html>

at least one problem that fev finds with the algorithm (or the reporter
doing the story): the usual confusion about passive voice.

"passive voice (example: a story says "bombs land" without stating which
party is responsible for them);"

i suppose it's passive because the bombs just sit there being landed by
gravity? what should it say? 'bombs fly downwards'?

at least it wasn't called 'passive tense.'

i'm sorry -- at least *the writer didn't call it* passive tense.


Baker, John wrote:
> SpinSpotter, a new online tool designed to expose news bias, has just =
> come out in beta.  I haven't tried it yet - you have to install their =
> toolbar, it will only work with Firefox 3, and it sounds maximally =
> annoying anyway.  It seems unlikely, however, that it will achieve its =
> stated goal.
> =20
> The tool is supposed to spot bias using "rules of spin" based on =
> journalists' codes of ethics, see http://spinspotter.com/rules.  The =
> prohibited forms of spin are:  reporter's voice (the reporter employs =
> modifiers or other language that conveys meaning beyond the supporting =
> evidence provided in the article); passive voice; biased source (failure =
> to disclose a source's view or affiliations); disregarded context; =
> selective disclosure (failure to mention a critical element of the =
> story); lack of balance (failure to give equal voice to all sides of a =
> controversial story); and overreliance on press releases.
> =20
> I'm not sure how useful these guidelines will be in reliably detecting =
> bias.  In any case, it seems that the tool will rely heavily on user =
> input, and therefore will be susceptible to gaming.   You can judge for =
> yourself at http://spinspotter.com/home.
> =20
> =20
> =20
> John Baker

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