Good article, good topic. I have been frustrated lately by the press and entertainment media. While I have no doubt that some manipulation of the masses has always been there, it seems lately as if the media and press don’t even worry about maintaining even the facade of neutrality or even subtlety.

In the past, with printed press, there was a vested interest in getting the story correct before the publication of copies and the connected expense. Now, in the day of social media, electrons, and free ‘corrections’ with just a few clicks, that ‘governor on dissemination’ is gone. Gone too is the huge automatic notice if a paper printed a retraction or correction, a few clicks and it is as if it was never there (yes, I know internet sleuths can always find earlier editions, but most of the internet surfing population are not that tech nerdy.)

Just trying to maintain a neutral awareness of the news can be exhausting, often having to compare several news sources and then satisfying the balance. When the news is high volume, as it is in high interest and crisis events, it is all you can do to filter the barrage of information pushing at you from social media, news sources, and even personal news feeds.

There is a saying in the military, the first intel is ALWAYS wrong. Take a breath, take a knee, wait for confirmation — the intel will be fleshed out and corrected and then react. In the plugged in, social media, live now world of today, the first intel comes in and people see it as the total story. Fear it will replace law and reason? Dude, be afraid, very afraid.