For years, people have had issues with traditional media and how different outlets choose to report, discuss and present the news.

Personally, I take my role as a talk show host very seriously. I’m not a journalist. I don’t report the news. I discuss it. And in discussing the issues of the day, I share my opinions and take positions. There’s a difference.

We all have some form of bias. Our experiences, beliefs and perspectives influence how we interpret the world around us. But there has to be a line, particularly when it comes to journalism and political reporting.

During the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump helped popularize the term “fake news.” For some people, the phrase became a legitimate criticism of inaccurate or biased reporting. Others believed Trump frequently used it to discredit reporting and media organizations he disagreed with.

Almost a decade later, the phrase hasn’t gone anywhere. In fact, President Trump continues using it when criticizing media organizations and coverage he considers unfair. But this is bigger than President Donald Trump and his media criticism. What responsibility does the media have, and what responsibility do we have as consumers?

The reality is that many of us consume information that confirms what we already believe. If an outlet consistently tells us things that align with our political beliefs, opinions or feelings, we’re probably more likely to trust it. The more we consume from that source, the easier it becomes to accept what we’re being told without questioning it. Unfortunately, I think we’re seeing some of that in Bermuda as well.

It’s almost as if we’re comfortable with biased reporting when the bias aligns with our own feelings. But when that same perceived bias works against something or someone we support, suddenly we’re concerned about fairness and objectivity. Maybe it’s human nature. But it’s also dangerous if we stop questioning the information we’re consuming simply because we like what we’re hearing.

Think about food. If something tastes good, we may continue consuming it without paying much attention to the ingredients. Media can work the same way. We’re being fed information every day, but how often do we actually stop and question what’s in it?

What’s fact? What’s opinion? What’s missing? Who are the sources? Is there another perspective? And would I still believe this reporting was fair if it were about someone or something I supported?Those questions become even more important when we’re talking about politics.

I don’t expect every talk show host, columnist or commentator to be neutral. Their job may actually be to offer perspective and opinion. But journalism is different. When something is presented as news, I believe people should be able to distinguish the facts being reported from the opinions surrounding them.

At the same time, we as consumers have a responsibility too. We can’t complain about media bias while only consuming media that confirms our own biases. We can’t demand objectivity from journalists while refusing to question information simply because it supports what we already believe.

The bigger issue may not be whether media bias exists. It could be whether we’ve become comfortable with it as long as it’s our bias being reinforced. Which brings me back to this question.

What do we actually want and expect from the media? Do we want information that challenges us and sometimes makes us uncomfortable? Or do we just want someone with a microphone, newspaper, website or social media account telling us what we already believe?