Information Related to "Sifting the News: What to Look for"
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News
comes in many forms these days. With the Internet more than two decades
old and accessible around the planet, relying on a single television station,
newspaper or a few newsmagazines is no longer the norm. Becoming your own "investigative
reporter" is as close as the nearest computer.
Regardless of where we get our news, determining the truth of the information
requires discerning analysis. Unquestioningly believing whatever news is
presented by various media sources is no longer viable. Common sense demands
a more perceptive appraisal of how human nature works.
News and noise
Important questions arise: What is news and what is just noise? News, in general, is the word we use to refer to the reports of events that have occurred in the recent past. Current events is another phrase that carries basically the same meaning, and we usually assume that most current events will be reported in a factual manner.
Noise is unimportant news (like celebrity gossip) or news that isn't presented in a completely truthful way. There is a lot of noise in this world, and people have a variety of reasons for shading the truth. Noise is also the endless array of advertisements and infomercials used to get people to think a certain way or buy a certain product. Outright lies also come under the umbrella of noise.
How can we identify the difference between useful news and useless noise?
Bias affects the news
Bias is the inclination to a certain philosophy or line of reasoning as one presents the facts of a situation. Bias is evident when certain facts are reported while others are omitted. And bias is certainly present when a reporter gives his or her interpretation of the facts.
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