Credible and Determined
My family values credentialed journalism. As world events unfold around us, I often ask people:
Where do you get your news?
The usual response is a source that provides more opinion than fact. It is not news if the information is designed to manipulate our emotions. Biased or misleading information used to promote a singular point of view is NOT NEWS.
Credible journalists provide us with accurate, verified information we need to be free and self-governing. Factual verification of the truth.
To remain the land of the free and the home of the brave, we have a responsibility to engage in factual, truth-based conversations. I often ask people where they get their news because I want to know:
Who do you trust to deliver the truth?
I want my truth and my news to be based more on facts than fiction. I listen closely to the long-term beat reporters who check at least three independent, credible sources before reporting. I pay the subscription prices for credentialed journalism. I want information thoroughly researched and factually verified.
I will not be influenced by click bait, social media posts, talking heads, and manipulative media. This type of propaganda only makes us want to turn away, check out, and pretend serious events are not happening.
Without credible sources for the truth, I have seen too many smart people check out when we need them to check in. Too often, I am hearing smart people say:
“Oh…I don’t follow the news.”
“All news is fake news.”
“I don’t know who to trust, so I tune it all out.”
“I’ve stopped listening. It’s too depressing.”
An untruth becomes a prevailing belief when smart people disengage and remain silent. We never know our true power until we are tested. As a nation, we are being tested.
Freedom is not free, and democracy comes with responsibility. Credible journalism records the truthful events of the day. History is determined by how we respond to the events of the day.
“Where do you get your news?”
“How do you respond to the events of the day?”
Our individual responsibility in a democracy is to engage in factual, truth-based conversations. To be of the people, by the people, and for the people, we must ask seek truth over party loyalty.
Seek truth over party. It only takes a small group of determined people to change the course of history. We must start by supporting reliable sources of credible, fact-checked information. Then, we must respond to the events of the day by using our power to shape the outcome. We must stay even when we want to turn away. We must stand up and speak up.
We must respond with more than reaction and outrage. Anger is a precursor to change, but not change itself. We must make personal choices that lead to the greater good.
To be safe, free, and self-governing, we need credible journalists and determined people. We need universal condemnation for acts against humanity. And, we need universal support for human dignity and the protection of children.
Our nation is being tested.
We need more credible journalists and determined people to change the course of history.
