Truth in Jornalism

Computer Club Looks for Truth in Journalism

   With the election over, now may be a good time to address the matter of truth in journalism. This is not an account of who is biased. It’s an attempt to help the reader use the Internet to choose those sources of information on current affairs that can be relied on to report information accurately.

   The November issue of The Costco Connection describes the steady decline of the print media as a reliable source for accuracy. The same applies to much of radio and TV. This observation is not likely to surprise anyone. However, what about the Internet?

   It’s not that the Internet is the only place to find the truth. It isn’t. However, the chances of finding what is factual, and what may not be, are better with the Internet and here is why.

  Even though the reader has never had so much information – as well as misinformation – at the fingertips, an alert reader can construct what John McManus, the author of the article, describes as “Your Own Truth Filter”.

   This process starts, according to McManus, with sorting fact from fiction. Does what is written pass the smell test? Who wrote the article? Something from a political party must be supported with evidence. Are the facts correct and are any left out? Writing something doesn’t mean it’s accurate.

   Next is the source. Is there a conflict of interest?  If a legislator at any level supports a position, it’s important to know why. Does the journalist ask the question and is the question answered? Again, the Internet will often disclose connections that reveal a conflict of interest.

   What was the motivation for the article? There is nothing wrong with editorial pages. These by definition are opinions expressed and a wise reader knows that. The problem occurs, however, when writers let political bias bleed into a news section. This should make the reader cautious of what is written.

   This is apparent, for instance, when a headline misrepresents the content of the article or when the article itself bends the news by not offering enough evidence to support what is written - or not including contrary information that’s on record.

   Headlines, by the way, are seldom written by the author of the article. Space often makes this unworkable. Others are given this job and some are capable of getting it wrong.

   Obviously, there is some work involved here, but a self-constructed truth filter developed by using the Internet will sort out incorrect, poorly reasoned and biased information provided by the media.

   Here are some websites to visit. First, these checks facts: www.factcheck.org; www.truthorfiction.com; www.snopes.com. Others can be found by going to Google and there are pros and cons on each.

   Second, true objectivity seems to be in the eyes of the beholder. It’s easy enough to define, but opinions differ widely as to when it can be applied. So, here again is the Internet to help.

   Test the media, not to see what points are agreeable, but how many facts are presented, how they are supported and who presents them accurately.

   There is a quote from Thomas Jefferson:  “If a book be false in its facts, disprove them; if false in its reasoning, refute it. But for God’s sake, let us freely hear both sides, if we choose.”

   The Internet is there to help everyone to do just that. The Computer Club of Rossmoor offers Internet classes on a regular basis. Check the class schedule at the Computer Center at the Gateway Clubhouse.

 

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