Borgman, D. (1991, May). How to exegete the newspapers. S. Hamilton, MA: Center for Youth Studies.

OVERVIEW

People rely on newspapers as the most thorough and reliable source of information. People want to know where they are in the world and what forces affect one’s destinies.

Those who prepare articles cannot do so without some criteria on how information is presented and what is included, excluded, highlighted, or placed in the back pages.

There is no perfect objectivity in presenting news. Certain biases about significance and rightness and good taste are necessary. Political pressure, profit, and status in certain social circles often add biases to the reporting of news.

Hoe does one read the paper under the protection of sound critique? Here are some basic questions to consider as guidelines.

• What is the general bias or leaning of this paper? This article? To what extent is the paper (this article):
  • Sensational (designed to attract readership)?
  • Collaborationist (supporting some particular party or cause)?
  • Prophetic (willing to be hurt for the sake of truth)?
• Why was this article selected for this issue, and why was it placed where it is located?
• What in this article is fact and what is opinion? How is the story or argument developed?
• How credible are the facts and statistics offered? How could they be verified? Do I agree with the premises, logic and conclusions of this article?
• Where is this paper (or are these articles) leading us as a society?
• How should I respond to what I am reading?
• How do I want to help younger readers critique and respond?

IMPLICATIONS

1. Learning to read a newspaper with a discerning eye can provide new perspective on one’s culture.
2. Very often relevant studies and general information about youth and adolescence are used as filler material when there is no national or international crisis. These studies can be valuable leads to tracking trends.
3. It is important to reach beyond the partisan view of the newspaper and ascertain what is being communicated in the areas of principles and dignity.
4. One should keep his or her values and beliefs solid or one can be easily swayed by what is read.

Dean Borgman and Anne Montague cCYS