Deciphering fact from fiction is increasingly difficult these days. There used to be a time when turning on the 6 o’clock news meant understanding the complexities of today’s world. When I was in college, I took a media communications class and one thing that stood out for me was that journalism, at its core, is supposed to be non-biased. It is supposed to be a fact based description of the events that are taking place in our world- yet somewhere along the way, I discovered biases have been growing and are ever present in our media today. This has obviously been an issue for many years and was one that was discussed in that very class. All humans have underlying biases based on their personal experiences and perception of the world. You, as you read this, will have your own biases; you’ll read this through the lens in which you live your life. So with so many biases, with so many perspectives, with so much information available at our fingertips, how can we possibly determine what is truth?
About 7 years ago I became an avid listener of CBC radio. We decided to cancel our cable and I felt I needed something to listen to as I did the dishes or cooked dinner or got ready in the morning (pre podcast discovery of course). Initially I found many of the shows, such as The Current or the news, to be a decent representations of events around the world, however over time I began to notice that the journalists and radio hosts were allowing their biases to show more and more. This could be sensed in tone of voice as they interviewed, or even in blatant messaging when presenting the days news. This was my first indicator that I needed to make sure I was taking in information from more than one source. With that said, the pandemic has magnified this issue as folks try to wade through “real information” vs. “misinformation” on a regular basis. This becomes even more challenging when “misinformation” from two months ago, is categorized as “real information” in the present moment. Things are confusing, so if you sometimes don’t know what to believe, you are not alone.
So, when one media outlet is only presenting one side, and another media outlet is only presenting the otherside, where is the truth? Whenever there are two sides of the story, the truth always lands somewhere in the middle… so what IS the middle?
The growing use of social media has allowed regular human beings like you and me to be able to present a perspective in real time through live feeds and photos that can be disseminated throughout the world in a matter of moments. This in itself has brought into question how our media presents truth. During the protests in Ottawa, mainstream media had a very distinct narrative, yet a simple search on social media, a few follows of the people on the ground working as independent journalists, and it was clear that the two stories were vastly different. A similar story came out of the BLM Protests in the states. The media spun BLM protestors one way, while many others experienced something different.
Now on Social Media, you will find notifications that “Fact Checkers,” found misinformation, OR, some information in a post is misleading; but who has been given the job to distinguish fact from fiction online? Who pays these people, and what is their ultimate agenda when presenting “facts?” These are not paranoid questions, they are simply questions we should all be asking. Remember, the ones in charge of presenting the “ultimate truth” are the ones with the most power. (And if you haven’t read 1984 by George Orwell, now is the time).
What is truth really? You can look at a cube from one angle and see it differently then from an opposing angle… does that mean one side is a truer representation of the cube then the other? Witnesses at the scene of a crime will recall the event as happening completely differently, but both were at the same event. How do we determine truth? How do we determine fact from fiction, especially in our increasingly divisive world? How do we decipher if what’s being told to us via media is reality or simply one side of a debate that no one is having?
I have started looking at many sources when it comes to trying to decipher what is fact and what is fiction. Honestly, I believe, as we were told as kids, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. However, it is up to us to decipher. We must put on our critical thinking caps to determine where the middle is. Because I will tell you, I will research hot topics and get opposing results from reputable sources. When I see this, I start thinking again about biases… Why would one side be biased to have a certain outcome while the other was biased to have a different outcome… as much as you may want to believe “Science” is unbiased, you would be sorely wrong… and a simple search of historical events will prove this… from Tobacco companies hiring scientists to testify at trial, to pharmaceutical companies claiming research shows the outcomes of a new treatment are far more successful then it really was. This in itself makes it increasingly challenging to determine what is true. We are currently trusting the people in the media to figure this out for us. But, because we all have biases this in itself is tricky? It becomes particularly tricky when you begin to find out who funds certain media corporations. And, as we all know “Money talks.” At least when we discover the biases, we can start to understand what perspective they will be toting, partially based on who is funding them.
So, what could help us determine “truth?” Can there be truth any longer… can my truth differ from yours? Things have just gotten so bloody complicated.
Here is what I think. We need good debating. We need to see and hear debates from both sides. We need to witness professionals state their data, facts, research, so it can be ping ponged back and forth. This way we find truth. Silencing one side- which is happening at an alarming rate and is fiercely encouraged by many- is a dangerous and slippery slope. This leads to an increasing amount of distrust and unrest. I believe with strong and confident leadership — leadership that directs and encourages debate, leadership that encourages answering questions honestly, leadership that encourages unbiased media coverage– we could bridge the divide that continues to grow in Canada.
How about you? How are you deciphering fact over fiction? How do you think this could be solved? Let’s have a convo in the comments.
Like what you read? Don’t forget to subscribe and be the first to read. Share with your friends through social media, zip your people an email, or text them a link. My continued intention is that others will read this and not feel alone; not feel alone in the confusion or discomfort of our time. Thanks for reading
Kristine M
Links you may be interested in:
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/05/low-tar-cigarettes/481116/
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.3620483 – Secrets and lies: Faked data and lack of transparency plague global drug manufacturing