We are to blame, not the media

Trust in media, regardless of political position, is more than 50% in the United States. But only 26% of us get our news from traditional media. Most people get it from social media. Estimates of misinformation there range between 40% and 62%. However, people that consume social media news, blame the misinformation on traditional media.

Jon Stewart railed against the media on this week’s “Daily Show.” He excoriated them for hyping the potential of a hantavirus pandemic that was just not true. However, as the keen observer of public opinion, I noticed the explosion of social media posts on all platforms screaming about the impending plague.  

Traditional journalists said nothing until all those posts started circulating. They did the correct thing. They asked experts about the social media rumors. The experts unanimously said, no, there is no danger of an epidemic. The social media rumors are still circulating on the platforms because they posters haven’t bothered to go to a traditional news source.

In the California gubernatorial race, what’s being discussed on social media, is a hellscape of mediocrity and corruption. That’s not entirely inaccurate, but the characterizations of the candidates are far from accurate or even helpful discussions. To paraphrase Shakespeare, the fault lies not in the media, but in ourselves.

Lou Covey

Redwood City