Washington Post labels ISIS terror leader “austere religious scholar”

Yahoo News photo illustration.

Example of Media Bias:

The Washington Post on Sunday TWICE changed the headline of its obituary for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the ISIS terror leader who died in a U.S. raid in Syria over the weekend.

The original headline, posted online after President Trump announced al-Baghdadi’s death, read:


It was changed to:



Following widespread criticism (and mocking on Twitter), it now reads:


Identifying Media Bias


Types of Media Bias:


1. What type of bias does the Washington Post’s choice of headline display?

2. Why do you think the editors changed the headline describing Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi  to “austere religious scholar”? Explain your answer.

3. Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA) tweeted: “Every day The Washington Post uses harsher words against @realDonaldTrump than they do in writing about one of the world’s most evil terrorists. Yet we’re supposed to take them at face value. Let that sink in.”

Do you agree with Rep. Scalise? Explain your answer.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the answers.


1. Bias by spin.

2. Opinion question. Answers vary.

3. Opinion question. Answers vary.