In these times of “alternative facts,” we have to be sure of the sources of our information. My blogger friend, JoAnn Chateau, provides us with such a list.
Beware of relying solely on mainstream media for your news intake. According to The Atlantic writer Rosie Gray, even conspiracy theorists are going mainstream.
Information is like food. You must have variety. With a strong and healthy mind, fake news won’t fool you.
Develop better news consumption habits by gradually adding quality sources to your everyday viewing. Whenever possible, go corporate-free. Before you know it, you’ll be a master at comparing reporters and sniffing out the salient details of any news story.
To get started, visit my Be Informed page. It’s a mini-library of mostly independent news sources, with handy links. If you only have time for one new source, consider making that a daily portion of Democracy Now!
“Conspiracy theorists are on the national stage like never before, says Atlantic writer Rosie Gray. Alex Jones of Infowars fame is at the forefront. He’s responsible for propagating the widespread conspiracy theories…
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This is a good read with some good points for consideration. Much needed information!
Thanks for dropping by, Belanger 🙂
Thanks, Rosaliene. Many of us are also gaining perspective from the arts. Ionescu’s “Rhinoceros” is a masterpiece of theater, both hilarious and troubling in its description of the gradual transformation into a fascist state. A cautionary tale from someone who witnessed it in Romania in the 30s and worth our attention.
Dr. Stein, it’s great to see that our community of artists across the spectrum is doing its part in alerting the population of the dangerous path upon which we are treading. Under dictatorship rule in Brazil, they were among the first silenced. Many sought refuge in neighboring countries.
Rosaliene, I’ve always read voraciously, whatever captures my attention. That, plus having been a newspaper writer, editor, and freelance writer, has taught me to be discriminating in what I accept as truth. Nothing tells “the whole truth,” even if “the whole truth” is possible, which I doubt. Each has its own slant, a perspective on truth from that particular point of view. I don’t have a television, so am protected somewhat from the advertiser-dominated version of facts.
Enter “The Atlantic,” which is mass media in print. It used to be one of my favorite periodicals, until the issue that praised McDonalds’ over “health foods,” compared the two based on price. The article was so heavily biased that I was appalled. The author picked upscale New York establishments to make the claim. He was obviously no cook and appeared to know next to nothing about nutrition. “Harper’s,” another former favorite, gave a similar plug for Walmart around the same time.
“Fake news” and “conspiracy theory” appear to be the latest buzz-phrases to dominate media attention (not counting Donald Trump). I hope this latest round of name calling and finger pointing will lead us closer the “revolution in consciousness” that will teach us all to think for ourselves, and to learn from everyone and everything.
Katherine, thanks for the tip on “The Atlantic.” I had planned on signing up for their offer of a $10 one-year subscription, received last week in the mail.
The point, my friend Rosaliene, is like always…Human laziness! i’m sure for readers who want to investigate on truth, this article will be useful!
So true, Baccoartolini. When are too lazy to seek the truth, we have only ourselves to blame for our fall.
Very sound advice. I’m always astonished by how many people get trapped in echo chambers and confirmation bias. There is fake news going on on both sides of the equation – the consequences of this is that more and more of the ‘news’ is agenda driven instead of information driven: and then people start believing only the news that fits their own ‘agenda’ or bias. It’s becoming almost like supporting your sports team – the ‘news’ and media has become tribal, like football.
Now, more than ever, simple human intelligence and discernment is needed.
Thanks for dropping by and sharing your insights. Perceiving the bias of some of our news sources calls for lots of discernment.
Great information here. And yes, it’s so crucial to check the facts and not share those nasty alternative ones. Thank you for sharing these resources. I have to check them out. Until 2020 (or 2018 if we can really turn things around): we shall overcome.
Yes, Sageleaf: We shall overcome; we must overcome for the sake of future generations.