Truth vs the Media Cycle

Truth vs the Media Cycle by Bill Wilson

There was a time when journalists were taught to verify what a source said. Nowadays, truth doesn't matter to the media. Stories are measured by their social media views and impressions. The more outrageous the headline, the more views, the more successful it is.

Headlines may not have anything much to do with the story. But once the story is published, it is in the pubic forever, true or not. The news media is more interested in publishing, tweeting, instagramming, snapchatting than it is interested in getting the story straight.

An example is the Kavanaugh Supreme Court hearing. Stories abound of the accusations, but the veracity of those allegations is rarely challenged. They are then weaponized for political gain.

Here's the cycle: Someone plants a story, say about sexual misconduct; That story makes the headlines; the commentators start talking about it; The truth is really difficult to come by because no one dares question whether the alleged victim is telling the truth;

Then another story is planted about yet another sexual misconduct; This story makes the headlines, but buried deep in the story are the holes-lack of memory, alcohol is involved, can't remember time, place, or even the face of the accused; the story gives the first story momentum; now more people are talking about both stories; someone tells the media there is another accuser; there is no other accuser, but the story makes headlines anyway.

By now, the major networks are all chatting, speculating, analyzing the picture that has been painted of a serial sexual predator. Videos run over and over. Talking heads are debating.

Politicians are pontificating.

All the while, the accused is treated as if he is guilty until proven innocent.

To the politicians involved, it matters not whether the accuser is telling the truth or if the accused is guilty or innocent. It doesn't matter to them because they know the story is public, and if the public hears enough of it, its opinion is swayed. And that is what matters to the politician. The media doesn't care either about the alleged victim or the accused because it is getting its views, impressions and ratings.

This is what happens when the truth matters not. Lives are damaged. People are deceived. Reputations are ruined.

Responsible journalism is but a memory of a time gone by. Lazy or agenda-driven reporters care little about the truth and everything about their views.

Citizens rarely check the facts themselves. They just read and hear and form their opinions.

For politicians, the end justifies the means.

2 Timothy 2:15-16 advises, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."

We are seeing this cycle play out-babblings increasing unto more ungodliness because dividing of the truth is lacking. Let us always seek the truth, dividing it rightly, and seeing through the profane.