Media Manipulation and Bias Detection
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Media Manipulation and Bias Detection
Auto-Improving with AI and User Feedback
HonestyMeter - AI powered bias detection
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Partner boutique hotels / Salter Brothers Hospitality properties
Caution! Due to inherent human biases, it may seem that reports on articles aligning with our views are crafted by opponents. Conversely, reports about articles that contradict our beliefs might seem to be authored by allies. However, such perceptions are likely to be incorrect. These impressions can be caused by the fact that in both scenarios, articles are subjected to critical evaluation. This report is the product of an AI model that is significantly less biased than human analyses and has been explicitly instructed to strictly maintain 100% neutrality.
Nevertheless, HonestyMeter is in the experimental stage and is continuously improving through user feedback. If the report seems inaccurate, we encourage you to submit feedback , helping us enhance the accuracy and reliability of HonestyMeter and contributing to media transparency.
The article is an advertorial produced with a commercial partner, but this is only clearly disclosed at the very end, after extensive promotional content.
Final paragraph: "This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Salter Brothers Hospitality. Enjoy 25 per cent off your Blue Mountains holiday at all four mentioned boutique stays with the Summer Escape Sale, now on via each hotel’s individual website. Terms and conditions apply." Throughout the article, the four Salter Brothers properties (Parklands Country Garden & Lodges, Lilianfels, Echoes Boutique Hotel, Hydro Majestic) are presented as the key or default accommodation options, without explicitly stating earlier that the piece is a paid partnership or that these are owned/managed by the partner. There is also no mention that many other accommodation options exist (e.g. budget, mid-range, non-partner boutique stays, camping), which is a form of omission of key information in a "guide" format.
Move or repeat the sponsorship disclosure to the top of the article, e.g. under the title: "This guide is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Salter Brothers Hospitality."
Explicitly state that the four featured boutique stays are owned or operated by the commercial partner, e.g. "The following four boutique stays are part of the Salter Brothers Hospitality portfolio."
Add a brief, neutral note acknowledging that there are many other accommodation options in the Blue Mountains (including non-partner hotels, motels, guesthouses, and budget stays) and that the article focuses on a specific subset.
Adjust the framing from a fully general "guide" to a more accurate description such as "a curated selection" or "a partner-supported selection" of experiences.
Use of consistently positive, marketing-style adjectives and superlatives that promote specific businesses and the region without balancing with neutral or critical information.
"This is, after all, a sublimely beautiful region..." – strong value-laden adjective without qualification."increasingly, it’s a vibrant centre of culture, shopping and entertainment" – promotional framing without data or nuance."the original – and still the essential – brewpub from Mountain Culture" – "essential" is a subjective, promotional claim."what it confidently calls the best burgers in town" – even though attributed to the venue, it is repeated uncritically in a guide context."Dining across the Mountains continues to level up" – promotional, implies continuous improvement without evidence."A break in the Blue Mountains demands comfort, tranquillity and perhaps a dash of opulence" – prescriptive and promotional framing of what visitors "demand"."Lilianfels, a resort that channels refined comfort in an old-fashioned country house environment. No matter the season, Lilianfels offers peace and charm in a spectacular setting" – highly positive, marketing-style language."Echoes is now a four-and-a-half-star hotel that’s one of the jewels in Katoomba’s hospitality crown." – strong promotional metaphor."the grand Hydro Majestic"; "a true Blue Mountains icon"; "one splendid Edwardian and Victorian architectural package" – stacked positive descriptors.
Replace subjective superlatives with neutral descriptions, e.g. "a scenic region" instead of "a sublimely beautiful region"; "well-known" instead of "icon" or "jewel" unless clearly attributed as opinion.
Where strong positive claims are made, attribute them clearly and/or soften them, e.g. "often regarded as" or "markets itself as" rather than stating them as fact.
Avoid prescriptive language about what visitors "demand"; instead, describe options: "Many visitors look for comfort and tranquillity".
For phrases like "the essential brewpub" or "best burgers in town", either remove the superlative or clearly mark it as the venue’s own marketing claim and balance with neutral wording.
Maintain a more descriptive, less evaluative tone in accommodation and dining sections, focusing on concrete features (location, price range, amenities) rather than value judgments.
The article heavily features partner properties and a curated set of venues without acknowledging the broader range of alternatives, creating an impression of comprehensiveness that is not supported.
Accommodation section: Only four boutique stays are mentioned, all tied to the commercial partner: Parklands Country Garden & Lodges, Lilianfels, Echoes Boutique Hotel, Hydro Majestic. No other hotels, guesthouses, budget options, or camping are mentioned, despite the article being framed as "A Guide to Visiting the Blue Mountains". Food and drink section: A small set of venues is highlighted (Mountain Culture, Dryridge Estate, Megalong Creek Estate, Polar Bear, Mr Collins, Tempus, Basil Nut, Ates, Osteria 2785) with no indication that this is a selective list or that many other options exist. Cultural section: Only certain bookstores, galleries, and record stores are named, again without clarifying that this is a sample rather than an exhaustive or representative list.
Explicitly state that the article offers a curated selection rather than a comprehensive guide, e.g. "Here is a curated selection of walks, venues and stays to get you started."
In the accommodation section, add a sentence acknowledging that there are many other types of stays (motels, B&Bs, hostels, campsites) and that the focus here is on higher-end boutique properties.
Clarify that the featured food, drink, and cultural venues are examples, not an exhaustive list, and avoid implying that they are the only or necessarily the best options.
If possible, include at least one or two non-partner accommodation examples or clearly explain why only partner properties are covered (e.g. "This section focuses on partner properties").
The title and framing suggest a general, neutral guide, while the content is partly an advertorial focused on partner properties.
Title: "From Bushwalking to Boutique Stays: A Guide to Visiting the Blue Mountains". Body: The structure and tone resemble an independent editorial guide, but the final disclosure reveals it is produced in partnership with Salter Brothers Hospitality and promotes a specific sale at four named boutique stays. The headline and early paragraphs do not signal this commercial focus, which can mislead readers about the nature and intent of the piece.
Modify the title to reflect the sponsored nature or the specific focus, e.g. "From Bushwalking to Boutique Stays: A Partner-Supported Guide to the Blue Mountains" or "A Boutique-Focused Guide to the Blue Mountains (in partnership with Salter Brothers Hospitality)".
Add a visible label at the top such as "Sponsored content" or "Partner content" so readers understand the commercial context before reading.
In the introduction, briefly note that the guide highlights partner boutique stays among other attractions, to align expectations with the actual content.
The article uses emotionally appealing imagery and narrative-style framing to create a romanticized, seamless story of the destination and partner properties, which can subtly steer readers’ perceptions.
"A break in the Blue Mountains demands comfort, tranquillity and perhaps a dash of opulence." – evokes a specific emotional ideal of a holiday, nudging readers toward higher-end options."Rooms are spread out across the garden-filled estate, offering plenty of shady spots to relax and unwind." – imagery designed to evoke relaxation and luxury."No matter the season, Lilianfels offers peace and charm in a spectacular setting – and in summer, a beautiful outdoor pool is the hub." – emotional framing of an idealized experience."Echoes is now a four-and-a-half-star hotel that’s one of the jewels in Katoomba’s hospitality crown." – metaphorical, emotionally loaded description."Looking out over the Megalong Valley, the Hydro was built in 1904 and is a true Blue Mountains icon, offering comfort and history in one splendid Edwardian and Victorian architectural package." – romanticized narrative combining history and luxury.
Balance evocative descriptions with concrete, practical information (price ranges, accessibility, booking conditions) so readers can evaluate options more rationally.
Reduce or qualify emotionally loaded phrases ("demands", "jewel", "true icon", "splendid") and focus on verifiable features (e.g. "built in 1904", "overlooks the Megalong Valley", "Edwardian and Victorian architecture").
Avoid implying that a single style of travel (luxury, opulent stays) is the default or only desirable way to experience the Blue Mountains.
Where narrative elements are used, make clear that they are stylistic and not claims about typical experiences for all visitors.
Only positive aspects and experiences are highlighted, which can lead readers to overestimate how uniformly excellent or suitable these options are.
Throughout the article, all mentioned venues and experiences are described positively. There is no mention of potential drawbacks (e.g. price, booking difficulty in peak season, accessibility issues, weather risks on hikes, crowds at Echo Point, limited public transport to some wineries). This selective positivity can trigger the availability heuristic: readers recall only the positive examples provided and may assume they are representative of the whole experience.
Include brief, practical caveats where relevant, such as noting that some hikes require preparation and can be hazardous in bad weather, or that certain venues are higher-priced or book out in peak periods.
Mention accessibility considerations (e.g. for people with mobility issues) where appropriate, especially for hikes and historic buildings.
Clarify that conditions and experiences can vary (e.g. crowds, seasonal changes) and encourage readers to check current information before visiting.
Add at least minimal balance by acknowledging that the article focuses on highlights and that not every experience will match the idealized descriptions.
- This is an EXPERIMENTAL DEMO version that is not intended to be used for any other purpose than to showcase the technology's potential. We are in the process of developing more sophisticated algorithms to significantly enhance the reliability and consistency of evaluations. Nevertheless, even in its current state, HonestyMeter frequently offers valuable insights that are challenging for humans to detect.