Why Media Matters in a Democracy
With a general election now in the near-rear-view mirror, it is easy to fall into thinking that voting is the beginning and end of democratic participation. This is a grave mistake.
A healthy, functional, and representative democracy requires an informed public - a public who seeks fair and accurate information they can use to form opinions, deliberate, debate, persuade, and advocate policy that shapes our collective and individual lives. But are we there?
There is an interesting interplay between policy, public officials, public opinion, and journalism that holds the balance for mediated deliberation. Journalists hold the responsibility to pursue fairness and accuracy, but they are unelected. Journalism holds itself to account through a Code of Ethics. What about the other spheres? Public officials and their strategic messaging? The public itself? Where is the center?
____________________
13 years ago, the PBS investigative program Frontline produced a 4-part series titled News War, that examined a fractured relationship between the Bush administration, journalism, and public opinion. News War Chapter III explores changes in the news industry that were just emerging then, with the rise of citizen journalism and an economic puzzle that legacy media sought to solve - with some urgency.
What a difference 13 years makes! Think about how social media - in its infancy in 2007 - has radically altered not just journalism, but truth itself. Some have argued that we live in a “post-truth” era. I think we are in a culture of denial about what is verifiable. Nevertheless - the truth is hurting, now more than anytime in recent memory.
We can only begin to get our arms around misinformation on social media, but social media companies are caught in a terrible pickle. The Daily looked at how social media companies are scrambling to figure it out.
____________________
We now find ourselves in the season of light - a time of traditions tied to our faith communities, but even the rituals of secular consumer society provide some comfort and ritual for millions of people. And we are interrupted.
One way that I find helpful in humanizing myself during the pandemic is cooking. Thanksgiving provided a great excuse to cook all day, as I made a standing rib roast, cheddar bread, and biscuits with feta and chives from the garden. It was great. Biscuits and scones are terrific comfort food and easy to do well with this recipe. Its a crowdpleaser at my house. Give it a shot.