Being the older guy I am, I was considered passed middle age
when computers arrived, I have always felt more comfortable getting my news
from the professional media, newspapers, radio, and television. Having worked
in broadcast and print newsrooms, I feel that I’m getting as close to the truth
as it is possible to get. But there is a “but” to that statement. I know the
difference between a news article and an opinion or analysis article. According
to what I’m seeing today, there are many people who don’t understand those
words.
Most news outlets try to make it clear when something is
straight news and when it is opinion. Television outlets aren’t always that
clear on the matter but an astute observer should be able to tell the
difference. An opinion piece is just that, someone’s personal opinion or
observation of a subject. It is not a news story, so it should never be
considered fake news. It’s an opinion.
In a poli-sci course I took years ago, it was demonstrated
how propaganda works. Fake news is propaganda. An article about a world cup
event, may have been skiing or something, Russia’s Pravda news outlet said,
“Russia placed third behind France.” Certainly doesn’t look fake or anything
like that does it? What isn’t said is as important sometimes as what is said.
The New York Times that day reported, “U.S athletes took top honors with France
a distant second, and Russia tied with seven other countries for third.”
What Pravda reported was the partial truth that it intended
for Russian citizens to read. That’s government control of the press. If one
gets information from sources other than professional journalists, one must be
astute enough to read through where and how the articles came to be. If one is
satisfied with getting information from just one source, how would one know?
If you hear something over and over from a single source,
eventually you will probably begin to believe it. However, if that source is
the only one saying this something, and you also read from many other sources,
you are probably not going to believe whatever that something might be. This,
I’m afraid is what’s happening with too many people, particularly those with a
lesser education or intellect. Getting most of your knowledge from a single
non-professional source is going to limit what you really know.
This idea of a “social media” sounds good but it’s nonsense
because no one is responsible. A social media outlet sells advertising space to
a foreign country that wants to intrude on our election process and no one is
responsible for vetting the advertising. Joe Blowhard says something like, “I
heard, and it has to be the truth, that …” No one has any idea if what he heard
is the truth or if he even actually heard it.
Unfortunately we elect our less than leaders based on
“someone said …” instead of taking the time to gather information from many
sources. Sure I read the New York Times. I also read Fox News on the Internet,
along with the Washington Post, BBC news, Reason Magazine, and the National
Review online. I read the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times. Do I
believe everything that’s printed in all those publications? Of course not
because a lot of it is opinion, and listed as opinion. The editorial page of
the New York Times is not a news page, it’s opinion. All that reading gives me
a fairly broad picture of the day’s news from the left, right, up, and down,
and I read opinion pieces from those outlets as well.
To scream daily that all the news outlets except the one you
like the most are dealing in face news is not only foolish, but you’re playing
into the hands of those who want you to believe in fake news. No matter the
subject there is always more than one way to view the subject and if you really
want to be informed you must look for the various views available.
That pretty much explains the concept of a free press also.
Yes, your “social media” expert has every right to his or her opinion, but
never let yourself believe that only that outlet can be right. Particularly if
few if any of the professional outlets agree in some form. We are free to read
whatever it is we choose and we are free to believe whatever it is we choose,
but that doesn’t me we are always right. Get as many views of a subject as you
can before making your decision on whether it is fake news or simply someone’s
opinion.
Until next time, read good books and stay regular
Johnny Gunn
Will you join me on facebook from time to time?
Or Tweet with me, darlin’?
