The mainstream media is 1% (really the 0.01%) reporting the news as they want you to hear it. Fox News is not just owned by a billionaire, The reporters make millions per year. Tucker Carlson is a bargain at $6 million per year. Bill O'Reilly was $20 million per year. Sean Hannity is a cool $40 million per year. These people do not want you to know how little they pay in taxes. They will not report that Jeff Bezos pays zero in taxes. You only get the news that they want you to hear. Then Fox mixes the news with the opinion that it wants you to have on that news. Then they repeat that opinion over and over until the audience is consumed (brainwashed) with it. If you watch Fox News only, You will be less educated.
By all means, we can and should teach every student how to be an ethical reporter. In fact it sounds like a fun way to learn how to "consider the source(s)". The subject of propaganda, and misinformation along with how to expose it must be included. If we are going to teach every kid by using the internet, it is our responsibility to teach them to use it responsibly. They should know it's garbage in---garbage out.
I also see a need to teach our youth to take care of their brain, literally. We have spent a huge amount of time and money to push no smoking and exercise for fitness. Then they can take their brain knowledge back to their parents who need to know it too.
One path from this has been been stuck in my mind: "...or if we’ll follow the path of Hungary, Russia, Turkey and other countries that have slid from democracy to oligarchy and autocracy". This is significant because it means (1) it has happened before (2) it can happen here, (3) it *is* happening here, and (4) people are not aware of it happening. It would be great to have a series of guests to do deep dives on what happened in each of these countries, focusing on parallels with things going on today. Will be useful in water cooler wars because I can say "If you don't believe me, you don't have to take my word for it, look it up yourself" since we're talking historical facts rather than something they can try to dismiss as a left wing conspiracy theory.
Thom, you have identified the root cause(s) of America’s fairly intractable challenges. On one hand we have the factions that use our elected officials to “regulate” the propaganda machines to their advantage, and on the other hand we have the same factions that use our elected officials to cripple the most important function our government can provide-to build and maintain a role model education system that can empower our citizens to be good learners and teachers, and make good decisions. The sad irony is that Finland learned their best practice-based methods for education from America and since they implemented them, Finland has been role model for the rest of the world. The skills of learning and teaching are the most valuable capabilities that a human can possess, and thanks to the oligarchic control over our public sector decision-makers and their various media outlets, our nation is failing at something that is fundamental to a successful democracy.
By all means, we can and should teach every student how to be an ethical reporter. In fact it sounds like a fun way to learn how to "consider the source(s)". The subject of propaganda and misinformation, along with how to expose it, must be included. If we are going to teach every kid by using the internet, it is our responsibility to teach them to use it responsibly. They should know it's garbage in---garbage out.
I also see a need to teach our youth to take care of their brain, literally. We have spent a huge amount of time and money to push no smoking and exercise for fitness. Then they can take that message back to their parents who need to know it too. Just like heart health, brain health is key to a long enjoyable life.
The mainstream media is 1% (really the 0.01%) reporting the news as they want you to hear it. Fox News is not just owned by a billionaire, The reporters make millions per year. Tucker Carlson is a bargain at $6 million per year. Bill O'Reilly was $20 million per year. Sean Hannity is a cool $40 million per year. These people do not want you to know how little they pay in taxes. They will not report that Jeff Bezos pays zero in taxes. You only get the news that they want you to hear. Then Fox mixes the news with the opinion that it wants you to have on that news. Then they repeat that opinion over and over until the audience is consumed (brainwashed) with it. If you watch Fox News only, You will be less educated.
https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-politicians/republicans/sean-hannity-net-worth/
https://www.businessinsider.com/study-watching-fox-news-makes-you-less-informed-than-watching-no-news-at-all-2012-5
https://www.thebrainwashingofmydad.com/
Great sources, as always. Thanks.
By all means, we can and should teach every student how to be an ethical reporter. In fact it sounds like a fun way to learn how to "consider the source(s)". The subject of propaganda, and misinformation along with how to expose it must be included. If we are going to teach every kid by using the internet, it is our responsibility to teach them to use it responsibly. They should know it's garbage in---garbage out.
I also see a need to teach our youth to take care of their brain, literally. We have spent a huge amount of time and money to push no smoking and exercise for fitness. Then they can take their brain knowledge back to their parents who need to know it too.
One path from this has been been stuck in my mind: "...or if we’ll follow the path of Hungary, Russia, Turkey and other countries that have slid from democracy to oligarchy and autocracy". This is significant because it means (1) it has happened before (2) it can happen here, (3) it *is* happening here, and (4) people are not aware of it happening. It would be great to have a series of guests to do deep dives on what happened in each of these countries, focusing on parallels with things going on today. Will be useful in water cooler wars because I can say "If you don't believe me, you don't have to take my word for it, look it up yourself" since we're talking historical facts rather than something they can try to dismiss as a left wing conspiracy theory.
Looks like I got what I asked for in your 7/14/2021 rant about Hungary, thanks!!! Over time, I hope to learn about the other countries too…
FYI I referenced your article in a DU post about a week ago
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215611970
Thom, you have identified the root cause(s) of America’s fairly intractable challenges. On one hand we have the factions that use our elected officials to “regulate” the propaganda machines to their advantage, and on the other hand we have the same factions that use our elected officials to cripple the most important function our government can provide-to build and maintain a role model education system that can empower our citizens to be good learners and teachers, and make good decisions. The sad irony is that Finland learned their best practice-based methods for education from America and since they implemented them, Finland has been role model for the rest of the world. The skills of learning and teaching are the most valuable capabilities that a human can possess, and thanks to the oligarchic control over our public sector decision-makers and their various media outlets, our nation is failing at something that is fundamental to a successful democracy.
By all means, we can and should teach every student how to be an ethical reporter. In fact it sounds like a fun way to learn how to "consider the source(s)". The subject of propaganda and misinformation, along with how to expose it, must be included. If we are going to teach every kid by using the internet, it is our responsibility to teach them to use it responsibly. They should know it's garbage in---garbage out.
I also see a need to teach our youth to take care of their brain, literally. We have spent a huge amount of time and money to push no smoking and exercise for fitness. Then they can take that message back to their parents who need to know it too. Just like heart health, brain health is key to a long enjoyable life.