Propaganda

Propaganda, defined by the Oxford dictionary: Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. Synonyms: information, promotion, advertising, publicity, spin, disinformation, counter-information, agitprop, info, hype, plugging, puff piece, the big lie.

News, defined by the Oxford dictionary: Newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent events.

What word is missing from those definitions?

Facts, defined by the Oxford dictionary: A thing that is known or proved to be true. Information used as evidence or as part of a report or news article. The truth about events as opposed to interpretation.

Based on those definitions can you honestly say that all news media are giving you the facts about most everything going on in the world? Maybe we should redefine names. ABC, CBS, NBC Propaganda, Cable Propaganda Network (CPN), Fox Propaganda. To understand my point, look at the last definition of the word “facts”.

As an example of how lazy the overwhelming number of people are, if you were to read the above paragraph to them verbatim they would say something like “so all news organizations lie about everything.” In fact, what I said was “most everything”. There is a difference between my statement and theirs.

Words have definitions, but most of society either don’t know or ignore that fact. Take the phrase “You can’t do that” when applied to a particular act or action. Most people use that phrase to apply to something you are not allowed to do. “What they actually mean is “you aren’t allowed to do that” Being able to do it and being allowed to do it are two different things.

News outlets (try to) avoid (outright) lying. If they didn’t they wouldn’t last long. But they will alter, maybe by omission, or interpret, maybe by using incorrect definitions, facts in order to put across what they want you to think and believe. Why do you think media outlets are the first thing seized in a takeover?

Don’t be lazy. Do your own research. To get as close to the truth as possible look at all media sources and extract the common items. There are almost always nuggets of truth in each. That’s where you will find things you can fairly rely on. Remember the old saying “The truth lies somewhere in the middle”.

Read, research, compare, reason, think for yourself.

Alan Marshall