The one area in which there is a glaring difference for our respective generations is with the receipt of news. Good luck on finding reliable sources of the news. I find it extremely difficult right now. However, don’t expect that the US has historically enjoyed solid gold credentials for truth, justice and the American Way from its media. Current day media may believe they stand for truth but I wonder if journalism schools stress objectivity enough. In today’s digital information age it will be harder for you to sift and winnow. Too much is not necessarily a good thing.
When I was young we received three daily newspapers at our house. (Milwaukee Sentinel a nd Chicago Tribune in the morning and the evening Milwaukee Journal.) I admit that my main focus was on the comic stripes or on the sports section. But, for whatever reason I was also interested in politics and current events. I remember “The Joe Must Go” movement; the Soviet invasion of Hungry; the Nixon/Kennedy debates. I heard people say that the three newspapers were identified as republican or democratic. For the life of me I had a difficult time discerning the political leanings of the three newspapers. I also saw no great discrepancy between news stories in Newsweek, Time or US News And World Report which our house received weekly. I believe national TV news initially consisted of 15 minute segments and we received some news from movie newsreels. My mind was a sponge of sorts for news but I don’t recall that I felt manipulated or steered in any particular direction by the media.
In 1968, circumstances arose in which I was able to watch the three major TV network news cast in succession. For 3 or 4 months in a row I watched 1/2 hour segments each of CBS, ABC and NBC on basically the same news of the day. 1968 was a year of great turmoil. LBJ decided not to run for re-election; Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were murdered; there were riots in many US cities; there were presidential primaries and conventions; all with the Vietnam War and its protests as a backdrop casting a black cloud over America. Lots of news to report. Watching these outlets I never had the sense that I wasn’t getting an accurate telling of the events of the day. After months however, I did get the impression that there was an element of bias via adjective laced descriptions of the exact same facts. Against today’s version of left vs. right on a 1 to 10 scale I placed the networks between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 on any given day. I felt good about that as news reporting had seemingly come a long way since its “yellow journalism” days. I felt comfortable that I was receiving legitimate facts from all corners.
Through the years it became increasingly clear to me that news reporters are inclined towards being newsmakers. Now the bias in the media is easily identifiable. Worse, I’ve lost faith that I am getting reliable facts in reporting. Slanted bias and conflicting opinions can be handled. But, knowing the truth from the news media is like sorting through trash bins to get accurate information. I have over twenty favorite links to news sources on my tablet/computer. Those are my starting points for research in some cases. Except when rain is reported and it is actively raining against my window, I try to verify “facts” that are reported to the best of my ability. It is no longer a matter of sorting through bias/slants; it is a search for reality itself. Reporters and news sources outright lie. Plain as day they have no shame. I make my judgments in that regard. You must do so also. Use your noggin. Think for yourself and be cautious about “news”.
However, probably the greatest danger comes from the narrowing of the mind of news “viewers”. If a person is placed on the 1 to 10 scale mentioned above, many if not most consumers, confine themselves to news sources within 1 to 10 with which they agree. So, lies are accepted without question if consistent with a position on the 1 to 10 scale. No need to think further. This was brought home to me when someone repeated a lie to me about a verifiable news fact. When asked, this person did not cite any basis for the belief in the lie other than to say, with a straight face, ” I have the best news source.” Don’t look further. No need to sift and winnow in that brain. The dangerous part of rigid thinking is that it precludes discussion within the citizenry. It is not unhealthy to debate and have different opinions. By the way, debate team in high school was useful. And, people wonder why a philosophical divide exists in this country as folks blindly rush to occupy slots 1 to 10.
News, opinions, provocations, outright lies and re-writes of history will swamp you. I find a lot today that is outrageous. You may or you may not agree with that opinion. Stay strong. Keep an open mind. Think for yourself. But, pay attention to current events. It is very important to stay informed as a good citizen; especially when it is time to vote. You need a good grip on factual information in order to exercise that precious right/responsibility.