GP – To what extent can news and information in the media today be trusted?

The news and information in the media can be trusted to a large extent: Why?

1. The local and global news and information in the media today go through rigorous rounds of editing and checks therefore ensuring that it can be trusted.
   1. Quality and accuracy check done so as not to compromise reliability and credibility of news agencies.
   2. According to a recent study done by a PR firm in Australia, Crossman Communications, 79% of participants in the study trust print newspapers and TV news bulletins as their main source of current events due to quality control and checks on accuracy

2. The news and information today can be trusted as there are news organisations who pride itself on honest journalism and accurate interpretation of real world issues and dilemmas in order to inspire change.
   1. These professional outfits and individuals see themselves as the fourth estate, representing the interests of the people in relation to the business and political elites.
   2. Investigative journalism – Supersize Me; Christiane Armanpour well-known and internationally acclaimed for her objective reports on war and genocide in the Balkans, Africa and Iraq amongst other issues; The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has exposed organised crime syndicates etc.

3. The journalistic oaths and integrities mean that individual journalists are expected to have moral courage to report what they feel is right.
   1. Hence portraying the news and information as trustworthy and not pandering to any organisation or institution’s viewpoint
   2. Opinionated pieces in the news – reports on war in The Guardian has often reminded the public about the atrocities and repercussions of war- that soldiers do die and that the military cannot invade someone’s homeland without expecting a backlash from its people – this view strayed from mainstream opinion and common consensus of that time therefore an example of the journalist going against popular opinion to present an opinion true to his/her views.

The news and information in the media cannot be trusted if we consider how the new media works today.

4. The media today cannot be trusted due to its high profit motive that may skew or sensationalise news.
   1. Priority on high ratings rather than quality reporting, hence journalists resort to cheap tactics, such as exaggeration and distortion of facts to attract viewership. Minor events are manipulated to garner interest and a celebrity culture takes over.
   2. Terry Jones, a racist pastor in Florida invented the “Bum a Koran Day”. Terry Jones is inaccurate in his accusations, but the media covered this event like it was a presidential appearance -150 news media interviews scheduled when they caught wind of the event, although nobody in the town cared about Jones’ event – he only had 50 followers in his Church.

5. The media has often been used as political tools for manipulation.
   1. Therefore rendering its news and information biased and untrustworthy.
   2. In the US, Fox News’ blatant bias against the Democrats – it presents a view of the status quo tainted by Republican propaganda and conspiracy theories, as well as fudging of facts.

6. The pressure to deliver breaking news and increase readership may also cause the media to jump at any scoops they may get without checking its credibility.
   1. This is made challenging with the advent of technology and tools that enable materials to be doctored and created by anyone.
   2. CNN falling for fake government announcement about Mr LKY’s death.

7. It has also become increasingly difficult to control speculations and spin-offs.
   1. This is especially when social media enable users to interact with and contribute to news, thus casting doubt to the credibility of the information that comes out of it.
   2. Boston Bombing – social media was quick to collect reactions of the masses – smartphones, Twitter and Facebook provided opportunities for everyone to get involved. Within seconds of the first explosion, the Internet was alive with the collective ideas and reactions of the masses. Legions of Web sleuths cast suspicion on at least four innocent people, spread innumerable bad tips and heightened the sense of panic and paranoia which led to media hysteria.

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