When a world leader blatantly lies, and that lie is shared on social media by a news agency with no commentary, no attempt to share how false the information is, that news cast is doing a disservice to the communities they serve. It’s devoid of journalistic integrity.

We don’t live in an era where it’s ok for people to make their own judgements. A month ago a major news agency shared such a blatant exaggeration and series of lies on TikTok that I felt compelled to send them a private message: “Pathetic to share this post with no commentary on a news channel. This isn’t news it’s pandering to attention. Shame on you. Do better.”

I don’t think my comment made a difference. And so I’m starting to wonder what will? What will it take for news stations to have the backbone to speak out rather than complacently share falsehoods? Assuming somehow that the general public will ascertain fact from fiction, and truth from lie, when it’s the news source sharing the lie, is a major problem.

I understand attempts to be objective when sharing the news, but objectively sharing a lie and expecting the general public to figure it out is a pathetic approach, and I’m seeing more and more of it.

News media doesn’t need to make it a rant, they don’t need to scream, they don’t have to sensationalize. What they do need to do is fact check blatant falsehoods and call them out. To continue to share blatant lies from known liars and call that news… is essentially accepting the role as part of a propaganda machine, and that’s not news.