Ever since the election, I have been pondering what can I actually do that will matter. With no election on the horizon for two years, volunteering or getting out the vote seems well off into the future. So, I have decided that are a few things I can do now….and encourage others to do so as well. The first item is more of what I am already doing but with deeper meaning. I firmly believe we all have to be, and teach our friends, and especially our children, to be “digitally smart”. We have to understand the importance of depending upon “trusted sources” when we read material on the Internet or in printed copy. We have to understand the importance of professional journalists and editors (my new digital gatekeepers, if you will). Further, I will choose not to get into a discussion about the trusted sources I choose to read. I won’t be dragged into some “mainstream media is biased” or any other rants against news organizations that invest in fact checking, reputable reporting, and who hire journalists with principles and professionalism. My choices for news are the following: NYTimes, Washington Post, Politico, NPR, CNN, WSJ, BBC, NBC, ABC, and Bloomberg News. Yes they are mainstream, but I trust them to provide facts and perspective. I believe I get a full range of views by reading many of them daily and on any particular issue.
This also means I will not look for confirming opinions or make judgements, or believe I have the full set of facts about any issue or situation after reading FaceBook, Instagram, FoxNews, MSNBC, USA Today, and the HuffPost. Note to wife: just because I said I won’t depend on MSNBC doesn’t mean I won’t watch it 😉
I have to do something. I can’t just sit back and take it any longer. This is the first of a number of things that I can and will do. What will you do?
psuper 