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‘Your trusted information source’. But how can one tell which is legit and which isn’t? [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-10-16  

It used to be when I was in public school that you trusted your teachers to give you the lowdown or scoop and present such in an unbiased, unvarnished way. When I listen to discourse today, I have to listen very closely and intently to what I’m hearing to try to determine whether what I just heard is accurate or not. At times, if I feel the need, I’ll consult additional sources to get a more broad brush stroke of said topic area.

There have been times when I have asked certain interested individuals (as it relates) to further explain what they meant by what they said, as a means to try to get additional clarification if I didn’t get the full meaning in the initial disclosure. I always feel that this is acceptable practice and I have no qualms about investigating further. Most times, I think, when I do so, the solicited comply. However, there are also times, when, for whatever reason, those interested persons don’t.

I remember in a passage in a book I bought where a reference source was quoted. There was no link provided where I could access, on the internet, the source for such quote. So, I took it upon myself to reach out to the source directly through email seeking further explanation and the response I received in return was something on the order of: “I’m extremely busy and don’t have time to deal with this right now.”

If the person had the time to read my email and had time to respond, then they more than likely had time to provide appropriate comment.

I also remember one time as a journalist doing a story on walnut biotechnology. The interview connected with this has to be the most interesting one that I’ve conducted in my entire career in journalism. In the end when the corresponding article was released, I received an email or call (it is difficult for me to now remember which it was) from one of the two interviewees telling me that the other interviewee’s stated findings or comment presented in the piece was just flat-out wrong. I wasn’t sure how to proceed on this other than to advise the interviewee with whom I was corresponding to take up the matter with the other interviewee who, as a matter of fact, he knew, this information communicated to me by the interviewee in question. I left it up to them to resolve and hopefully they did. If either party felt additional explanation was in order, that person could always submit for inclusion in a subsequent magazine issue, a clarifying or qualifying statement laying the whole situation out. I don’t believe that ever happened. I also remember a former editor of magazines I used to contribute to once saying: “Once it’s in print, it’s forever.”

Which now leaves me to ask: Was one of the participating interviewees lying?

I really don’t believe that to be the case. I watch educational, informational reports and shows quite a bit and opposing sides, in providing comment, will invariably disagree. It’s a part of the dialogue exchange process. As members of the audience, it’s up to us as listeners, readers, viewers to decide for ourselves which position we believe is correct.

The nature and characteristic of conversation. It is what it is. You know, the nature of the beast, as some will say.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/16/2199699/--Your-trusted-information-source-But-how-can-one-tell-which-is-legit-and-which-isn-t?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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