Editor:
I began doing radio community commentaries in June of 2006 and finished No. 93 on March 1, 2010. At the time, I was concerned about where people got their information (Mailbox, May 29). My concern has only increased. Education and the validity of information are crucial in a democracy. People are relying more on social media, talk shows, blogs and political spin, none of which are required to be truthful. Journalists are trained to ferret out the facts and give both sides without opinion.
Some people don’t understand the difference between news and opinion. Journalists try to keep bias out of their news reports, although they might not always succeed. Journalism used to be considered the fourth estate, or branch, of government and necessary to democracy. Opinion, on the other hand, can be based on feelings, biases, economic or political persuasion. It’s nice if you have some facts, but not required. It is, in fact, just your opinion.
Just where do we get our information, and how valid are our sources? Beware of those who use marketing techniques to sway public opinion. Tell the “Big Lie” often enough, and people will believe it, real or not. Use generalities; no specifics. Use hot-button words and slogans and repeat them over and over. Use clever phrases that incite fear, blind loyalty or reinforce our biases. Eliciting a chuckle allows us to feel superior to those who don’t share our bias. Half-truths pick out only the parts of an argument that support our position and conveniently leave out the rest. Statistics, charts and slick PR pieces rely on these techniques.
Our democracy hangs in the balance right now. Make sure you are basing your political decisions and support on actual facts and not opinions spouted by messengers using the tools of propaganda.
Kay Escarda, Eureka
This article appears in Humboldt Crabs Baseball.
“The distance between what is said and what is known to be true has become an abyss. Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous. The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams the loudest. “