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| Brian Ross of ABC news |
Pundits, politicians, and professors are all wringing
their hands over the proliferation of fake news. They’re all very concerned
about the masses who now believe fake news. One thing that most fail to
acknowledge is that many people prefer fake news over real news. Many viewers,
readers, and listeners simply prefer news that confirms the things they believe
in. It makes life easier. They like fake news and they’re not going to stop
consuming it or sharing it simply because someone says it’s bad.
For example, there are people who are eager to
believe any negative thing they hear about Democrat leaders simply because they
are on the opposite side of the political fence. When a fake document was circulated which was supposedly evidence of
sexual misconduct by Senator Chuck Schumer, some conservatives ate it up. They
did so because they don’t like Schumer.
Likewise, when Brian Ross of ABC aired an erroneous
story supposedly proving that President Trump asked Mike Flynn to reach out to
the Russians before the election, people on the political left believed and
shared because they can’t stand Trump. The story was seriously wrong and ABC suspended
Ross for four weeks over it.
It’s not rational to believe every negative
thing you hear about someone just because you don’t like him or her. However,
that’s how the thinking goes for many people these days. Fortunately, there are
some people – and they are probably in the minority – who are concerned about
the accuracy of the news they are consuming. They would rather hear the truth
even when it clashes with their beliefs.
Most journalists screw up at some point. Getting
stories out first is a big deal in journalism. Sometimes when a journalist
rushes to get a story out first, corners are cut and mistakes are made. It’s troubling
that ABC’s vetting process was not sufficient to keep a big piece of fake news
off the air. However, it’s not fair to say that everything ABC News produces is
garbage.
Similarly, it’s not fair to write off everything
on Fox News because Sean Hannity is a shameless cheerleader for Donald Trump. In
addition to the prime time opiners, Fox News employs serious and professional correspondents
and commentators like Britt Hume and Catherine Herridge.
In our current news environment, where there
are plenty of opportunities to get news that perfectly confirms one’s biases,
it’s natural to gravitate toward the sources that tickle our ears the best.
Which news organizations are worthy of your
trust because of their professionalism rather than the way they cater to your
biases?
Do you believe what they are producing
primarily because it aligns with your beliefs?
How do you determine who to follow in your newsfeed?
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