Tag Archives: journalism

News Lies

Leave a reply

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.

The wrong focus in the news

I’m becoming more and more disappointed with news reporting. Journalism has become a way to tell a predetermined story, with the focus being to exaggerate a narrative that is negative. Here are two examples:

1. TV – A report on the AstraZeneca vaccine in Canada. A large amount of the vaccine is is about to expire, but because of the fear of blood clots, which is extremely low, officials are acting slow in deciding what to do with this supply of vaccines. In the report, they mention that the blood clot risk for the second shot is significantly lower than than the low risk with the first shot. Then they interview a woman who had her first AstraZeneca shot and is cautious and doubtful about having the second shot. She becomes the story. Not two people with different views, one saying yes, and one saying no… just the cautious perspective.

2. Newspaper – This is a message from our local paper to our Valedictorian:

The Tri-City News is reaching out to SD43 valedictorians about what it’s like to graduate during Year 2 of the pandemic.

Can you please write two paragraphs — no longer than 150 words in total — about your Grade 12 experience, and describe what it’s like for you and your fellow grads to transition without any official ceremony?

Congratulations valedictorians, please write to us and tell us the reasons why you are disappointed with your last year of school.

What an awful thing to ask!

In both of these news stories the focus of the story is one that stirs emotions, not to benefit anyone, simply to prey on the emotions of the audience. I’m seeing this time and again. The question isn’t ‘what is the story here?’, the story is ‘what will get the most watches, clicks, likes, and shares… at the expense of good reporting.

I find myself wondering, is real journalism dead? I hope not. But I don’t know the way forward? It seems to me that this kind of negative reporting hits a chord that less biased news does not… and in a very competitive market for people’s attention, stirring negative emotions makes for better views. What’s the way forward from here?