Mainstream Media decline, their fault or not?
Have we finally got to see their bias, focus and lack of coverage, distracting and dishonest on any side we pick. Fight a culture war together with politicians that has made opinions and ideas a part of identity.
Want people to be ignorant make them treat and defend ideas like it is a family member, character is shown in how we treat strangers and people we do not know and agree with. First impression or a created one, make ideologies or political representation a form of a religion, you see perfection in yours and only faults in others.
We are inclined to trust faces rather than organisations, look at marketing or how you choose leaders, are you truly educated about their policies and ideas or do you choose who you like personally?, What makes you want to buy or follow?.
Key factor while corporate media has lost trust and honesty we have at large become more skeptic. Organisations are run by many but the more we lean into creating a face on issues the more it will become harder to discuss ideas openly. Always use the most polarised face or incident, always condemn and blame the worst case instead of representing the common one.
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Far right or far left, nothing else and no other choices. In one way it provides a false sense of reality, pick one side and you belong to the extremest version of them. Be afraid to say or speak because others will say who you are, for the media it is optimal due to the fact that they can launch campaigns about people to avoid confronting their idea. Discredit and lie about people because it is harder to be accurate in criticising ideas, create narratives to please conformation biases within us and continue to gain capital and influence, watch us not them, they are dangerous, we are right and they are wrong, misinformation and disinformation is what they represent.
Putting a face on an issue, known as “personalizing” or “humanizing”. It is a powerful strategy to create emotional connections and generate empathy. It can help people relate and understand problems on a personal level, Use faces we trust to impact and create urgency or fear of the issue. People’s emotions and trust may be used to manipulate their perceptions, leading to biased and irrational decision-making about issues and people.
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi.
Many point to the pandemic but it can be credited to other things, for example, dishonest reporting on issues or people, not even trying to start or have a conversation. Focus on celebrity scandals or faces, creating scandals or actually frame it like they are guilty before going to court. We are attached to issues and people, so when our “Personal ” issue and person gets attacked or framed we are quick to defend while others are fast to attack.
Misrepresenting, misinformation or disinformation has been used on individuals and issues, more times then not over months or years it turns out that they were wrong. How often do they apologise or admit fault for ruining reputation and lives?, might be infringing upon privacy rights for our supposed “Entertainment” instead of real impactful news. Our standard is perfection on public figures but no one is.
People who love Fox hate CNN, CNN hate Fox, report two diffrent things on the same thing or hide and avoid coverage about what does not align with your narrative might be a contributing factor. Truth or honesty can never be found in two people who act dishonestly and are unwilling to have a conversation, frame and blame is our game. Find every opportunity to cause more divide and mistrust on the side you do not represent, It is how we treat those we do not agree or understand that has created this climate? Never patience and respect rather inpatient and disrespect.
When did media loose trust, what incident or maybe we still trust them, no matter what we can se a pattern of acting in personal interest in how influential people conduct themselves. We need to start understanding instead of willingly misunderstanding issues and people?
Sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers.
Issues are many but you choose how it haunts you.
Have a great day!
Tom Hilkema
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