The Pejorative of "Mainstream" Media

 

I often see both left and right using "mainstream" media in a pejorative sense. Oh, that's just the mainstream media not telling the whole story or only what "they" want you to hear. I've been guilty of this as well. Here's the thing- all media is created by human beings. All human beings have bad days, bias of one form or another and different prejudices. Everyone has an axe to grind. Sometimes it's more obvious than others. I too, as a consumer of news / media, have the same issues. We are programmed to think we are one of the good guys and we think what good people should think. Others are wrong, operating in bad faith or worse yet seek to actually harm us. Who is paying for the news coverage? So what can be done? Where can we get good, accurate information? What do we we do with this information? 

1. Who's paying the bill? 

Where does the organization get its money from? Advertisers! Great, who are they? Political parties or government sponsoring what I'm looking at? Foundations or large corporations kicking in something? None of these have to be dealbreakers. The content can still be useful and valuable. Still, knowing why something was created is important. 

I think the next two questions have the same answer. 

2. So what can be done?

3. Where we can we get good accurate information? 

Look as many places as possible and pay attention to how each source tells about the same event. What narratives / stories are they pushing and why? I think being well and truly informed takes a good deal of work. Time is a precious resource. We get into the habit of using a few go to (trusted?) sources for news and can easily end up in an information silo. Take the time to learn more. It is important.         

4. What do we do with this information?

If you think it is good share it! The internet is full of half-truths, big and small lies and outright government / corporate propaganda. This is a small way to change things for the better. Too many want us to stop asking questions, trying to distract with shiny things and fake outrage. 

I see mainstream media as a good starting point. I know there are biases. That's a part of it. Still don't like "mainstream" media? Well, do the homework and dig deeper. Network news to documentaries like Frontline and on to international perspectives is a path to deeper understanding. This is not full-proof but better than just a scan of headlines on your smartphone. Freedom is not free. It takes work.