who to believe?

The world of communications is a universe and although I often talk about corporate communications, this time I am referring to all those that exist. Today there are a large number of people who believe everything they see or hear without wondering for a moment if the information that reaches them is correct or not, worse still, they form judgments based on non-validated information. On this occasion, it is my interest to share some tools that can help us maintain a balance when paying attention to any information that reaches us, regardless of the medium.

Let us remember that although there are very professional journalists, as well as the media outlets for which they work that are also very serious and reliable, however, there are always factors that raise doubts, most of them beyond the reach of journalists;

THE GOVERNMENTS. Much of the news has to do with political issues. Governments try to convince people to support their leaders and their programs. And since they are one of the most important sources of information, it is not uncommon for their spokespersons to cooperate with journalists.

COMMUNICATION ENTREPRENEURS. The major media outlets are in the hands of a small but powerful group of corporations. This wields a great deal of influence in deciding which stories will be covered, how they will be told, and how much publicity will be given to them. Since most of these corporations seek to make money, such decisions may be conditioned by economic interests. So if a piece of news threatens to cut into your profits, it might not get out.

THE ADVERTISING MEDIA. In almost every country, the media needs money to operate, and almost all of it comes from advertising. It is very common then, that advertisers prefer not to sponsor programs that could damage the image of their products or their way of doing business. If they don't like what is being presented, for example, on one news channel, they can always advertise on another. Knowing this, some publishers remove stories that could hurt their backers.

DISHONESTY. Not all journalists tell the truth; some fabricate their stories, I've lived it myself. A few years ago, during a massive dismissal for theft by employees of a company, a journalist was called by the workers to cover the news, since it was an important company in the country. Despite the discomfort of the workers, they remained calm, which did not generate great news for television. The journalist suggested to the workers in front of me that they take off their uniform and set it on fire at the entrance to the company's offices, in addition to raising their spirits to create a demonstration. With the workers ready for war, they proceeded to record the news for the primetime newscast.

THE FOCUS OF THE NEWS. Although the facts are irrefutable, the form in which they are presented will depend on the criteria of the journalist. The one who decides how to present the information is the one who decides what story or what part of it to tell or not.

INCOMPLETE INFORMATION. A shocking title makes the news more attractive, many reporters tend to eliminate loose ends and details that complicate the story, but others exaggerate data to get the attention of the public. On the other hand, television time is short and often there is only a minute to present a complex story, presenters and reporters are forced to omit important details.

SOCIAL NETWORKS. These are full of people (including influencers) whose sole objective is to gain followers, their opinions are totally personal, they do not have a valid source of information and often do not have the academic or technical training to make a judgment. Not to mention those who are sponsored by a product, because finally that is the ultimate goal, to make money. Don't forget that they are primarily to entertain, not inform.

SO I SHOULD NOT BELIEVE THE NEWS?

More than stop believing, the important thing is to have balance. It is true that we cannot believe everything we see in the news, especially on social networks, but that does not mean that we should not believe anything at all, we must be cautious and very objective.

Before validating important news we must ask ourselves;

WHO PRESENTS THE NEWS? Is the person or organization submitting it trustworthy? Is it a serious entity, or sensationalist? Who sponsors the organization?

WHAT IS THE OBJETIVE? Is it intended to inform, or entertain the public? Are they trying to sell us something or support a cause?

WHICH IS THE SOURCE? Has an investigation been carried out? How many sources are there? Are they reliable and objective? Are the versions of all the parties involved being presented?

WHAT IS THE TONE? Does it reflect anger, malice or an eagerness to criticize? Is it an attack or impartial news?

DO THE DATA CONSIST WITH THOSE FROM OTHER SOURCES? If there is contradiction, be careful.

IS THE INFORMATION UP TO DATE? Something that was considered true twenty years ago may not be true today. On the other hand, breaking news may be incomplete.

Ultimately it is your decision what to believe, but the truth is that being properly informed will help you not to be manipulated, but it will also help you make better decisions in your professional and personal life.

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