Seeking The Truth Amidst The Noise

 

Journalism has changed a lot, especially with the reports regarding the current LA wildfires and the Trump administration's return to the White House. The other day, I turned on the TV expecting updates on the wildfires, as people are suffering and need help. Instead, the news focused on confirmation hearings for Trump's cabinet. I do care about politics, but many people share my frustration and that there’s limited time for news in a half-hour show.  If I want more details, I have to look it up online.

The Information Overload

Reading the newspapers isn’t my cup of tea when it comes to learning about what’s happening out there unless there’s a headline that catches my eye. There are just too many stories, and quite frankly, I don’t like to hold up the whole thing and read so much news at once! I want to know what’s happening quickly, but I also want enough information to comprehend the situation. It’s frustrating because online articles are often clickbait, with catchy headlines that don’t tell me the whole story. After clicking on them, I often regret it because they don’t provide the details I need. Those headlines seem designed to attract clicks, not to inform.

A few years ago, when I went into a store that sells old and unusual things, I found a copy of the "Los Angeles Herald Tribune" published the day after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The entire paper was focused on that tragedy: people's reactions, details of that grim day, and the impact on the nation and worldwide. The news was full of facts, whether people wanted to hear them or not. I feel that journalism has changed so much today that we’re not getting those same kinds of detailed, factual stories. It feels like we’re getting more opinions than factual news.  When I read the newspapers, I found myself enjoying the stories from that day and appreciating what went on in people’s minds and feeling the sensation of that tragic day on November 22, 1963. 

The Misinformation Controversy

The rise of social media over the past couple of decades has come with complications. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were created to help us connect with family and friends. That’s why I signed up and that part has worked well, allowing me to reconnect with long-distance relatives and friends. However, these platforms have also become landscapes for misinformation and heated debates. This issue intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic, with campaigns from influencers, anti-vaxx groups, and even some news organizations promoting information debunked by health experts for their own profit. As our feeds fill with ads and disputable claims, it’s easy to forget the original purpose of these platforms.  That is to connect, not divide.

Now, it seems that there’s a constant battle of opinions online. It’s frustrating because, instead of promoting productive conversations, social media often fuels anger and attacks. It's become a place where people argue over everything, especially politics. People seem to think that their opinion is the only right one, and that anyone who disagrees is wrong. This creates a toxic environment where name-calling and personal attacks are the norm.  But what does this accomplish?  Why create such a destructive atmosphere online when we can just use online platforms for sharing ideas, opinions and feelings in more constructive ways?  I get it.  Hot topics do evoke strong feelings for us.  It’s difficult because emotions run high, and we want to be heard and understood but some of us get offended.  How often do we pause to consider our emotional responses before jumping into debates online?   

Gun control?  A lot of people have different ways of approaching it.  Abortion?  Many people have different stances on this, too.  Some of us feel like we need more guns, less guns, tighter laws on immigration, more lenient procedures for letting people in America, more governmental control and less of it.  It’s ok, none of us have to agree on everything.  If we did, we wouldn’t be able to think critically and grow as a society.  After a while, we’d get bored and have nothing left to talk about! 

Bridging The Partisan Divide

I witnessed a thread of posts on Facebook after I posted about my experience as a person with a disability.  I posted that people would ask me if I needed help when I was doing nothing while waiting for something.  My response to them was, “with what?”  They just saw my wheelchair and assumed I needed help.  Anyway, that post generated a lot of responses included a thread of…. a flame war, I guess you could say?  It turned out it was a lot of misunderstanding, so it took some clarifying and understanding for some time and all parties involved began to find peace with each other when they had one purpose: to understand each other, not hate or offend

News media platforms have also changed their focus. It feels like they serve their own particular audiences than providing unbiased reporting.  This only seems to divide America even further. The media gives the public what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear, which might explain why partisan attitudes have become so extreme.  They aren’t exactly like our parents when we were kids where we were told things we needed to hear but didn’t want to!  Sound familiar?

 

Beyond The Bubble: The Echo Chamber Effect

In the 1990s, we learned that truth and accuracy were essential in journalism. Opinions were allowed, but guidelines protected against slander and ensured integrity of journalism…. and kept student journalists out of trouble! Today, while journalists can share their opinions thanks to Freedom of the Press, some feel this has become excessive. Many still rely on the news for the truth, but what happens when it's filled with personal viewpoints instead of facts? I’m not claiming the news is all lies (depends on who you ask, really) but it's not like 1963, when events were reported as they occurred. Today, we have fact checkers to verify reports, yet many readers ignore them due to distrust, confirmation bias, emotions, belief systems, and misinformation campaigns.

I also find myself trying to be open-minded, listening to different perspectives, although like any human, I’ll slip and forget that it’s not my opinion but someone else’s. It’s important to engage in critical thinking, as it would allow us to better assess information we hear or read about. A lack of critical thinking could contribute to the pervasion of narratives that may not benefit our society.

Now, regarding the TV coverage, I understand why the confirmation hearings were covered instead of the wildfires. Yes, Trump is about to take office again, so the hearings seemed urgent. But it doesn’t mean we should overlook other significant events, like the fires that were affecting real people’s lives. Maybe viewers were tired of hearing about the disasters, or perhaps it felt overwhelming to think about them, which can lead to apathy. But the media’s role is to inform us, to provide resources, and to help communities come together, especially in times of crisis.

When I watch the news, it’s difficult but I try to remind myself that it isn’t just "bad news." It can inspire us to help others and to come together as a community. I believe we really need that kind of perspective, especially now with the contentious inauguration of Donald Trump, the LA wildfires and the recent passing of President Jimmy Carter. If we open our eyes and minds, we can work toward a better future.

From Division To Dialogue: The Power of Human Connection

A divided country and community won't get us anywhere except for more division, anger, hatred and violence. The media should focus on stories that unite us and offer new viewpoints rather than dwelling only on commentary that can potentially alienate us from one another. During my journalism classes, we often discussed human interest stories and how much they matter, but they also emphasized the need for factual reporting.

In light of the ongoing controversies and while it’s okay to voice opinions, I wish we could find common ground instead of allowing those opinions to tear us apart. With respect and open-mindedness, we can engage in constructive conversation rather than descending into argument and conflict.

We might lose people along the way, but if they can't appreciate constructive conversations, were they ever really on our side? Our goal is to create a new community: a space where we listen, share, and work together for a better world, embracing our differences to foster growth. We can start by opening our minds and hearts, doing our own research, and learning to appreciate the world more. The key is creating an environment where we can discuss ideas comfortably and safely, without judgment or bias, where we listen, make ourselves heard, and keep our emotions in check. If we need to express our feelings, we should channel them productively by seeking clarification (ask questions, not accuse!) and finding common ground.

We are capable of coming together respectfully. Journalism may have changed, but it doesn’t have to be our enemy. We can still strive to cultivate awareness, empathy, and understanding, creating an atmosphere that encourages healthier discussions and actions to improve our well-beings. Let's aim for that from this day forward, no matter what circumstances hit us.

John F. Kennedy has said, "Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed—and no republic can survive."