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| Still from The Young Turks, TYT Democratic Debate Night Coverage (c. 2016) |
Do you have any pet causes or issues that you are truly passionate about? Do you ever wish that your local news, or the big media networks [CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc.] covered issues that you feel they are ignoring? I know I do. It's hard not to get hooked into the political narrative and bias that drives the corporate media. All the pretty people, the expensive sets, and big name guests are compelling; waiting for all those commercial breaks touting new pharmaceuticals, investment funds, big banks, big oil, and medical insurance annoy me no end. Is there anything out there that you can really turn to for factual stories and non-mainstream talking points? You bet there is, and it isn't all 'fake' news.
Fake news is the cause celeb of the moment, it's what happens when the mainstream media screws over it's viewers so routinely that they look elsewhere for both information and entertainment. In the information age, it is all too easy to get phished in by propaganda sites that seem to reflect a viewer's own agenda and opinions. Unfortunately these sources routinely and maliciously plants stories with no basis in fact or only a marginal association with reality. They are meant to appear as credible sources of news, but often offer up recycled urban legends and conspiracy theories.
The danger of these faux news sources cannot be understated. Recently, we saw a vigilante shooting outside a small neighborhood pizza restaurant. The act was inspired by a false rumor about a politically linked child molestation ring in the pizzeria's basement. After receiving a number of threats and much abusive behavior, the circulation of the 'Pizzagate' story went viral. Culminating in an armed man firing off a live round of ammunition in a misguided attempt to find justice, it was discovered there was no such basement at all. The fired bullet, which embedded in a nearby structure, narrowly missed patrons and pedestrians. This is a small scale example of the seriousness with which internet propaganda should be consumed, a larger operation was at play during the recent US Election.
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| TYT Politics reporter Jordan Chariton corners DNC Interim-Chair Donna Brazile. (c. 2016) |
So where can you turn for reliable alternatives to 'Big-News'? The answer is independent journalism and small local operations that are free from corporate influence. If you see large private company advertisements, be wary. For example, if your favorite news source is funded by 'Big Pharma', you have to think critically about the medical stories they offer. How likely is it that a news anchor, and the organization he or she represents, would report a story about the cost of prescription medications if it would mean losing that commercial sponsor. If a news channel is owned by the same people that own McDonald's restaurant, how inclined might they be to report on the dangers of fast-food? Not very likely.
When media sources are funded at the grassroots with small donations from everyday consumers, free of corporate bondage, they are more likely to present important stories that matter to those viewers. What you then find is that the reporting is more responsive to the audience, fact finding becomes paramount, and commentary or discussion can vary from one presenter to the next. It is the viewership feedback, it's rise or fall, that puts journalists feet to the flames of truth. Without all the shiny new 'pop-news' tricks, it's much easier to see any biases and decide for yourself whether you will continue to patronize a provider of information content.
