Let me try to clear something up for news consumers. There are several deep misconceptions out there about what is news, journalism or “fake” — not to mention some really messed up ideas about what constitutes hate and tolerance. Quick rabbit/squirrel: I’m convinced the majority of the people screaming loudest about hate and tolerance wouldn’t know either one if it bit them on the collective nose.
Let’s start with some definitions. These are all from Oxford Dictionary, widely considered the most reliable and trustworthy of dictionaries of the English language.
News — Noun: Newly-received or noteworthy information, especially about recent events; a broadcast or published report of news; information not previously known to someone; a person/thing considered interesting enough to be reported in the news.
Journalism – Noun: The activity or profession of writing for newspapers, magazines or news websites or preparing news to be broadcast; the product of such writing or preparation.
Fake — Adjective: Not genuine; imitation or counterfeit; claiming to be something that one is not; forgery or sham. Verb: To forge or counterfeit something; to pretend to feel an emotion or have something; to make an event appear to happen; to deceive or trick someone.
If a person considers something interesting enough to share as new information or information that others should know about, that information becomes “news” when it is shared. If the person writes about it or prepares it for broadcast, then that person is acting as a journalist. If the information is not correct, or intentionally misleading, it is fake.
If John Doe reads the news or sees/hears a news broadcast, and …
… already knows about the information, the information does not cease being news simply because the person was already informed.
… does not like the story or the subject of it, the information does not cease being news simply because the person does not like it.
… thinks it is sharing incorrect information or with an obvious bias, that person can and should attempt to verify the information presented and see if it is, indeed, correct. If the news source is sharing correct information, it does not become “fake” no matter how many people dislike it or rail against it or its author.
I have a couple of family members who are attorneys. Although they’re used to it, they certainly don’t appreciate the “all lawyers are liars/con artists/etc.” rhetoric. As an ordained minister in a family of several other ordained ministers, we certainly don’t appreciate the “all preachers/evangelists are liars/con artists/etc.” rhetoric, either. And, as a journalist and husband of a journalist, I cannot appreciate the “all members of the media are liars/c
on artists/etc.” rhetoric.
Yes, this is a complaint, and yes, you are certainly welcome to disagree with me. Welcome to the free world, free press, free America. Let’s hope it stays that way.
But if you disagree with me, that doesn’t mean I’m lying to you or that you’re lying to me. It means we don’t agree.
Truth is not relative. Truth is never true for one person and not another. Truth is universal, whether you or I or anyone else disagrees.
