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ML-powered newspaper for showing news from many political perspectives

knowherenews.com

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Re: ML-powered newspaper for showing news from many political perspectives

#31
post #28

Partial-impartial is a risky mode of thinking, since it can seduce you into thinking that it's good to be impartial about all things. But there are subjects like climate change and Donald Trump, where it's irresponsible journalism to be "fair to both sides".

We should be fair to Donald Trump, because why not? Being fair doesn't mean nodding your head along to everything he says, it means not jumping the gun on all sorts of things and embarrassing yourself when it comes out wrong, which the press has regularly done when it comes to Trumpisms.

Re: ML-powered newspaper for showing news from many political perspectives

#32
I took a look at the current top item in "Politics": https://knowherenews.com/event/2471ce59-379e-40fc-87f7-fee77...

The impartial version "feels" impartial enough in tone, whereas the other two feel more openly partisan, the right one more than the left. But the story becomes more complicated when you look at the actual content.

Impartial version:

- Mentions historical dominance of left parties.

- Mentions rise of Sweden Democrats.

- Explains the Swedish political system.

- Explains the alliances.

- Explains that SD is unlikely to be in the government.

- Mentions that immigration is a central issue, but with no explanation.

- Quotes Kakabaveh from the Left party, at length. Mentions that she criticized Sweden's approach to integration, but with no details or explanation. Mentions threats on her by racists and fundamentalists.

- Is described as "impartial" at the bottom.

Left version:

- Mentions historical dominance of left parties.

- Mentions rise of Sweden Democrats.

- Explains the Swedish political system.

- Explains the alliances.

- Explains that SD is unlikely to be in the government.

- Only mention of immigration is that SD is anti-immigrant.

- Cites social democratic prime minister Löfven's criticism of SD.

- Is described as "positive" at the bottom.

Right version:

- Mentions historical dominance of left parties.

- Mentions rise of Sweden Democrats.

- Mentions that immigration and crime are top issues.

- Explains immigration and crime issues.

- Explains that SD "may not" be in the government.

- Cites SD leader Åkesson on broadening that party's appeal.

- Is described as "negative" at the bottom.

The left version goes into some detail on the workings of the Swedish parliamentary system, which are given a mere nod in the right version. On the other hand, the left version does not say anything at all about any issues with immigration in Sweden, while the right version goes into quite a bit of detail, and also discusses a crime issue, which is unmentioned elsewhere.

As for the impartial version, the content turns out to be basically the same as in the left version. Immigration is mentioned, but without any explanation of why it has become a political issue. And the politician cited is actually from the Left party, which sounds farther left than the Social-Democrat PM cited in the left version.

Re: ML-powered newspaper for showing news from many political perspectives

#33
I believe the purpose of newspapers is to give facts which allow me to make up my own mind. Which is certainly harder than just spouting the party line I guess. Take the Swedish Democrats: I agree with their stance on immigration but their economic policy and their social conservative beliefs I do not share.

Re: ML-powered newspaper for showing news from many political perspectives

#35

One limitation a site like this runs into is the fact that there's no such thing as an "impartial" view on fundamental questions of value. For example, what's the "impartial" view on whether to accept more refugees from war-torn regions? Just because a view is sandwiched between others on whatever particular spectrum chosen, or t uses dispassionate language, doesn't mean it's "impartial". It's still a view argued fro…

Sure, there are no impartial answers to these questions. But there can be impartial reporting on actual events taking place, and I think that's the goal here.
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