Re: [Phys-L] media trustworthiness, or lack thereof (was VSL)

["Marx, David" <dtmarx@ilstu.edu>]

While this topic is generally outside the realm of physics topics, it is relevant to epistemology.  We are dependent on others to give us factual information on which we are to make decisions.  This goes far beyond simple media bias.  It has gotten to the point where the media crafts the narrative to promote an outcome.  That is unacceptable.  I do not rely on any news sources to give me facts.  As in physics, we go to the primary source for our information and make our own conclusions.  We can't even rely on so-called "fact checkers."  We have to be our own fact checkers when it comes to anything political, just as we read journal articles and examine the methods and data to come to our own conclusions.  Most people though are not willing to take the time to do that fact checking, and that's why its possible to change reality for a large part of the population by controlling the narrative.



-----Original Message-----
From: Phys-l <phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org> On Behalf Of Richard Tarara via Phys-l
Sent: Monday, February 8, 2021 11:28 AM
To: Phys-L@Phys-L.org
Cc: Richard Tarara <rtarara@saintmarys.edu>
Subject: Re: [Phys-L] media trustworthiness, or lack thereof (was VSL)

[This message came from an external source. If suspicious, report to abuse@ilstu.edu<mailto:abuse@ilstu.edu>]

How the mainstream media reports a story is not the primary problem, IMO.  What stories they choose to present can be.  Compare the stories daily on CNN, PBS, and FOX and the different agendas will quickly become clear.  Then you can use that information to evaluate the stories that all three cover.

Watch out for Trolls!

Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics, emeritus
Saint Mary’s College
Notre Dame, Indiana

Free Physics Instructional Software
Windows and Mac
sites.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html

-----Original Message-----
From: Phys-l <phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org> On Behalf Of Zeev Wurman via Phys-l
Sent: Monday, February 8, 2021 10:00 AM
To: Phys-L@phys-l.org
Cc: Zeev Wurman <zeev@ieee.org>
Subject: Re: [Phys-L] media trustworthiness, or lack thereof (was VSL)

"Any legit story will be carried by
reputable sources, so there is never any need to cite disreputable sources."

Right. Like the Hunter Biden story until Nov 3.

Zeev

On Mon, Feb 8, 2021, 3:11 AM John Denker via Phys-l <phys-l@mail.phys-l.org>
wrote:

> On 2/8/21 3:20 AM, Daniel MacIsaac via Phys-l wrote:
>
> > Epoch Times is a Far Right / Falun Gong propaganda organ, see 
> > Wikipedia
> page on it
> > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Epoch_Times
>
> Yeah.
>
> More generally, my policy is to not post, forward, quote, or even "like"
> a story unless I can verify it.
>
> A good starting point is:
>   https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/
>
> I shun anything with a factual score less than "high". Even if the 
> MBFC score is "mostly" factual I stay away.  Any legit story will be 
> carried by reputable sources, so there is never any need to cite disreputable sources.
>
> Today's case is notorious:
>   https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-epoch-times/
>
> «Overall, we rate The Epoch Times Right Biased and Questionable based 
> on the publication of pseudoscience and the promotion of propaganda 
> and conspiracy theories as well as numerous failed fact checks.» 
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