According to Cory Doctorow's article, Truth and the Net you shouldn't trust anything you read, hear,or watch on the news.I find that to be a tad harsh Although, I would agree you can't believe everything you come across. Reporting the truth is an informative collaboration process that comes together, eventually.
Dependable Sources
Most people want to and do believe immediately what they are exposed to in the news media. The public depends on the journalist to be accurate and report truthfully. I certainly don't tune in expecting to be lied to or deceived in any way. At least, not on purpose.Some individuals will believe almost anything if we trust the source.
Confidence and Credibility
Imagine this mindset when many years ago,Orson Welles and his Mercury theatre team reported a radio news breaking story about Martians landing here on earth. Their ever faithful listening public panicked. According to Stefan Lovgen of National Geographic News, "The hoax worked, because historians say, because the broadcast authentically simulated how radio worked in an emergency." Essentially the public believed the news bulletins to be true because the radio station was seen as credible, reliable and reputable news.
Fact vs. Fiction
Thankfully we have come a ways since then. As Doctorow points out, "we got something better in "publish, then select" land." With instant information at our fingertips, this puts us, the reader at an advantage to pick and choose what to believe to be true though a variety of up to date sources. We have become our own editors. Our choices are limitless. There is no one-way to tell a truthful story, especially when the public can contribute. Does that leave the published story untrue? No, it leaves it unfinished. Ready for more facts to be added by others interested in the truth, thereby enhancing the story.
Through this collaborative process the truth can be told from many different perspectives. This approach leads to a better understanding of the facts, truthfully.
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