I was reading an article on our local WJCT website a couple weeks ago, and was shocked at a disclaimer at the end. It stated,
“Some facts reported by the media may later turn out to be wrong (1).”
Are facts, a piece of information presented as having objective reality, not by definition true?
This past year news outlets, both online and televised, have presented the consumer with reporting that defies what we see with our own eyes. One example, Ali Velshi of MSNBC reporting from Minneapolis last May (2) during the riots. Standing in front of a burning building he states the protest is mostly peaceful.
The building owner probably has a different perspective. Judge Judy’s book, “Don’t Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining,” comes to mind.
WJCT has since changed that disclaimer to now read,
“Some things reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong.”
News outlets once had integrity, reported objectively, and would carefully verify facts.
We, the consumers of content, were once respected, but that is no longer the case. We are not viewed as consumers of content any longer, but rather subjects to be propagandized.
We have a choice — will we chose to be consumers or subjects?
One requires an effort on our part and the other requires none.
Proverbs 20:12: “Eyes that see and ears that hear – the Lord has made them both.”
1. Romo, V., & Diaz, J. (2021, April 20). Columbus Police Shoot And Kill Black Teenage Girl. Retrieved April 23, 2021, from https://news.wjct.org/post/16-year-old-black-girl-who-called-help-fatally-shot-police-ohio-family-says-0 2. Velshi, A. (Reporter). (2020, May 28). [Video file]. Retrieved May 5, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxcnajv9Cwc
