NewsCompass wins Rep. Mike Lawler’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in New York’s 17th District

When asked what inspired the creation of NewsCompass, the student said, “I was inspired to create NewsCompass for several reasons. This past summer, I was part of a research team that studied the media’s influence on society and how accurately it portrays certain narratives. Specifically, we looked into how current news often casts the police in a negative light, depicting them as irrational or even brutal, and the accuracy of this portrayal. To explore this, we examined police use of force after the death of a fellow officer, under the assumption that if the police were as aggressive as the media portrays, they might be more likely to act out in such situations. Our findings showed no significant changes in use of force, which called into question the accuracy of the media’s portrayal. This experience opened my eyes to how news and social media can push biased narratives, often exaggerating or misrepresenting facts to gain attention or make a profit. This sparked my interest in raising awareness about media bias and helping people recognize it.

Secondly, amidst the current presidential election, I have noticed that much of the political content I encounter seems more like propaganda than balanced reporting, with many articles potentially pushing specific agendas. This experience made me think about how we consume news and how often it can mislead or sway us. I wanted to create an app that provides transparency in news coverage, allowing people to take control over the way that they educate themselves on political issues, elections, and more.

Ultimately, it was my research experience, influence of the current election, and reading the news that inspired me to create NewsCompass as a tool to help people become more aware of news bias and better informed about the world around them.”