Which News Source Can I Trust?

With the increase of news sources these days, one might have imagined that it would get easier to get unbiased news. But unfortunately, it’s a bit complex than that, since most of these organizations or rather ‘companies’ are ‘profit-oriented’ than ‘journalism-oriented.’

I have — consciously at times and unconsciously some times — developed a method to eliminate most of these superficial news articles or organizations. I thought listing those ideas. So, here we go.

 Luring/Tempting Headings:

This is a prevalent disorder right now. I despise these the most and often refuse to click the headings even if it interests me. It breaking one of the basic rules of journalism and entering the space of drama/entertainment. The basic rule of journalism is to make the reader/viewer learn the news quickly. Almost all news articles do that these days with impunity, not letting the reader/viewer know the important thing that has happened as soon as he or she reads/listens to the heading.

 

This would make the reader/listener wait and stay on the article or program for it and read/listen through, they think. But, you are irritating/frustrating them. Where is the quickest delivery of news in these accelerating times? If you want to actually garner the attention of the reader/viewer and long-term readership/viewership, just do away with this nonsense, and tell it quick.

 Owning Mistakes/Lies:

Even this is a widespread virus, among the mainstream news media from before these Covid times. Unfortunately, as an individual growing in our country, we are prone to a form of loyalty that is not only immoral but which often affects us badly. We keep the mistakes or lies that the people whom we think of as our own do. And it will go away and won’t result in anything bad, we think. But, what happens if you don’t repair a small leak? It would become a big drain. And this is where our country is in, in more than one way, draining out people through the big holes that we allowed to spread. 

 

In news or people politics, persons or organizations that don’t own up to a clear mistake or lie shouldn’t be trusted. Once again, you may not often get what’s the truth and what’s the lie unless you develop your ‘unbiased’ trusted news source. Like the guy in the movie ‘Momento,’ you should cross mark the person or organization that gets caught with even one lie/mistake and refuses to make amends.

 Objective Reporting:

Unfortunately, at this point in India, all the journalism-related viruses are widely spread. Hence, even this one. Instead of going to the roots and reporting from the ground, the ‘Tu tu main main (You, you, me, me)’ of politics has infected the news media, especially the TV news media. We have to agree to the fact that our innate curiosity to stand and watch something like the drama of a roadside quarrel and any pinheaded rebel lead to this. But alas, the questioning changed direction as the quarrels became cheaper and cheaper.

But, the point is a news organization that takes no effort to reach the place and put ‘valid’ or at least 'decent' questions, pre-judging the situation is no channel to trust.

 Taking A Side:

If I plainly ask if a good journalist should take a side? Some of you may say no. That is correct to an extent, to the extent of listening to both sides of the argument and checking the specific facts and responsibilities with our bias. But, after that, if the facts don’t add up and the responsibility gets overtaken by rhetoric, that side has to be questioned. What happened in that other issue, at that time in the past? Where were you then? These are pointless tactics to divert the issue when one can’t defend their own argument.

These are also the times of social and independent media. But, even these same rules apply. Twitter is the quickest source, but only if you can browse through the non-sense. My most trusted ones are these (judge them after filtering your own ‘immoral’ bias): The News Minute, NewsLaundry, The Caravan & The Wire.