Editors and algorithms pick news for Facebook
Social network publishes internal editorial guidelines to rebut allegations of political bias
The Straits Times, 14 May 2016
SAN FRANCISCO • The world's largest social media network, Facebook, has published its internal editorial guidelines, in its latest attempt to rebut accusations that it is politically biased in the news content it shows on the pages of its 1.6 billion users.
The guidelines, which have never before been made public, give insight into what guides and discovers news items that are being shared widely, and how it is decided what to promote in the "Trending Topics" section of users' pages.
The 28-page document released on Thursday details how both editors and computer algorithms play roles in the process of picking what appears under Trending Topics.
While algorithms determine the exact mix of topics displayed to each person, based on that user's past actions on Facebook, a team of editors, much like a newsroom, directs how those topics are presented and decide what should be, and should not be, displayed in Trending Topics. And at practically every point in the process, a human editor is given the leeway to exercise his or her editorial influence.
For instance, after algorithms detect early signs of popular stories on the network, editors are asked to cross-reference potential trending topics with a list of 10 major news outlets. Editors are also entrusted to spot potentially large news stories bubbling up outside of Facebook by using an algorithm that trawls more than 1,000 automated feeds, along with traditional news sites. These editors can then introduce those trends into the Topics box, according to Facebook.
The guidelines were first created in 2014, and have been continuously updated over the last year and a half, said a Facebook spokesman.
The company also pointed to editorial rules that discourage Trending Topics staff from taking any one viewpoint, saying it has not found evidence that any editor intentionally manipulated the section to suppress conservative content.
"The guidelines demonstrate that we have a series of checks and balances in place to help surface the most important popular stories, regardless of where they fall on the ideological spectrum," Mr Justin Osofsky, vice-president for global operations at Facebook, said in a blog post on Thursday.
Social network publishes internal editorial guidelines to rebut allegations of political bias
The Straits Times, 14 May 2016
SAN FRANCISCO • The world's largest social media network, Facebook, has published its internal editorial guidelines, in its latest attempt to rebut accusations that it is politically biased in the news content it shows on the pages of its 1.6 billion users.
The guidelines, which have never before been made public, give insight into what guides and discovers news items that are being shared widely, and how it is decided what to promote in the "Trending Topics" section of users' pages.
The 28-page document released on Thursday details how both editors and computer algorithms play roles in the process of picking what appears under Trending Topics.
While algorithms determine the exact mix of topics displayed to each person, based on that user's past actions on Facebook, a team of editors, much like a newsroom, directs how those topics are presented and decide what should be, and should not be, displayed in Trending Topics. And at practically every point in the process, a human editor is given the leeway to exercise his or her editorial influence.
For instance, after algorithms detect early signs of popular stories on the network, editors are asked to cross-reference potential trending topics with a list of 10 major news outlets. Editors are also entrusted to spot potentially large news stories bubbling up outside of Facebook by using an algorithm that trawls more than 1,000 automated feeds, along with traditional news sites. These editors can then introduce those trends into the Topics box, according to Facebook.
The guidelines were first created in 2014, and have been continuously updated over the last year and a half, said a Facebook spokesman.
The company also pointed to editorial rules that discourage Trending Topics staff from taking any one viewpoint, saying it has not found evidence that any editor intentionally manipulated the section to suppress conservative content.
"The guidelines demonstrate that we have a series of checks and balances in place to help surface the most important popular stories, regardless of where they fall on the ideological spectrum," Mr Justin Osofsky, vice-president for global operations at Facebook, said in a blog post on Thursday.
"Facebook does not allow or advise our reviewers to discriminate against sources of any political origin, period."
The document was released just days after a report on tech news site Gizmodo said that Facebook editors had intentionally "suppressed" news topics from conservative publications trending across the network. The report also said editors were able to artificially inflate the importance of other topics by "injecting" them into the Trending section.
On Tuesday, Republican Senator John Thune sent a letter of inquiry to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, asking the company to further explain its editorial guidelines and to disclose whether there was "any level of subjectivity associated with" the Trending Topics section. Facebook said it planned to address Senator Thune's questions.
Experts also warn that trusting the neutrality of algorithms is a faulty premise. Algorithms are, after all, created by humans and therefore susceptible to the same unconscious biases. "As long as Facebook is hiring editors who lean left politically, those stories are going to get preferential treatment," Mr Erick Erickson, former editor-in-chief of the conservative website RedState, said in an e-mail. But Facebook's stance is that the best way to handle these issues is with a mix of human and machine input.
Mr Zuckerberg will host open discussions with conservative leaders and other politicians on the issue, he said in a Facebook post on Thursday evening.
He added that while the firm found no evidence the report is true, it will take steps to address problems if the probe uncovers anything against its principles.
"Every tool we build is designed to give more people a voice and bring our global community together," Mr Zuckerberg said. "For as long as I'm leading this company, this will always be our mission."
NEW YORK TIMES, BLOOMBERG
NEW YORK TIMES, BLOOMBERG
* Facebook revamps Trending Topics
Procedures for section tweaked to avoid political or ideological bias
The Straits Times, 25 May 2016
SAN FRANCISCO • Facebook says that it has changed some of the procedures for its Trending Topics section after a news report alleging it suppressed conservative news prompted a United States Congress demand for more transparency.
The company said an internal probe showed no evidence of political bias in the selection of news stories for Trending Topics, a feature that is separate from the main "news feed", where most Facebook users get their news.
But the world's largest social network said in a blog post on Monday that it was introducing several changes, including elimination of a top 10 list of approved websites, more training and clearer guidelines to help its team of human editors avoid ideological or political bias, and more robust review procedures.
Facebook said it would no longer refer to the list of national news sources - like Fox News, The New York Times and BuzzFeed News - to "boost" topics appearing on Trending Topics.
Earlier this month, a former Facebook contractor accused the company's editors of deliberately suppressing conservative news.
The report led South Dakota Republican Senator John Thune to demand that the company explain how it selects news articles for its Trending Topics list.
Procedures for section tweaked to avoid political or ideological bias
The Straits Times, 25 May 2016
SAN FRANCISCO • Facebook says that it has changed some of the procedures for its Trending Topics section after a news report alleging it suppressed conservative news prompted a United States Congress demand for more transparency.
The company said an internal probe showed no evidence of political bias in the selection of news stories for Trending Topics, a feature that is separate from the main "news feed", where most Facebook users get their news.
But the world's largest social network said in a blog post on Monday that it was introducing several changes, including elimination of a top 10 list of approved websites, more training and clearer guidelines to help its team of human editors avoid ideological or political bias, and more robust review procedures.
Facebook said it would no longer refer to the list of national news sources - like Fox News, The New York Times and BuzzFeed News - to "boost" topics appearing on Trending Topics.
Earlier this month, a former Facebook contractor accused the company's editors of deliberately suppressing conservative news.
The report led South Dakota Republican Senator John Thune to demand that the company explain how it selects news articles for its Trending Topics list.
Two days after Mr Thune's request, Facebook published a blog post detailing how Trending Topics works, even though it rarely discloses such practices.
Facebook said its investigation showed that conservative and liberal topics were approved as trending topics at nearly identical rates. It said it was unable to substantiate any allegations of politically motivated suppression of particular subjects or sources.
But it did not rule out human error in selecting topics.
"Our investigation could not fully exclude the possibility of isolated improper actions or unintentional bias in the implementation of our guidelines or policies," Mr Colin Stretch, Facebook's general counsel, wrote in a company blog post.
Last week, Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg met more than a dozen conservative politicians and media personalities to discuss issues of trust in the social network.
Facebook was relying on a preponderance of liberal and leftist "news" organisations, said Mr Brent Bozell, president of Media Research Centre and a participant in the meeting with Mr Zuckerberg.
"By not relying on any specific news outlets, Facebook returns to its neutral roots."
REUTERS, BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK TIMES
REUTERS, BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK TIMES
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