My response from a “Change my View” post on reddit. 1
What you are describing is proper journalism and an informed electorate (particularly the later part of this section assuming you’re in the US). News, particularly newspapers, are referred to as the “fourth estate“. Yes there is bias (even going back to the turn of the 20th century and beyond) but the general gist is that newspapers sit outside the government and act as a body that keeps politicians (and companies, etc) to task.
Citizens, particularly those who have the capacity to vote, have the responsibility to be well informed on pertinent matters. At the local level, state/territory, and country. You do this by reading multiple sources, remaining skeptical, and not giving into extremism (Strong beliefs loosely held!).
No one is going to be able to do this for everyone. It’s something you have to do for yourself. Here in the US one could even consider it part of the unique strain of individualism many hold so dearly. It is on you – especially if you are concerned about the future of your country.
“But Chris, That’s hard!” You’re right. Being an adult, and an informed citizen is difficult. Nothing worth doing comes easy in life. 🙂 Given that news media (news for entertainment), social media, and any person with a YouTube account often gets mixed up in popular culture as journalism it can seem as though journalism doesn’t exist. It does, but there’s just more crap to sift through.
Want to do something about it? Be informed. Subscribe to a local paper, maybe more than one. Curate what you read. Be critical of your own habits. Do some research. Here’s some resources I’ve found useful.
- This great series on navigation digital information by CrashCourse
- Why You Don’t Believe In Facts, And How To Fix It by Lisa Charlotte Rost