Fake news...?

Anne,

Didn't you say some of your family work for newspaper outlets?

What are their take on "fake news" articles?

Hi Jabber,

Yes, my kids and son-in-law all work for major newspapers. My daughter and SIL are editors, my son a photographer.

While we haven't talked about this a lot, I've gathered that they recognize the importance of getting your news from a reliable source, a known and respected newspaper, TV network or radio network. This means that the news they disseminate has been vetted for accuracy.

I can't believe employees' keep their jobs after reporting false
stories. If I were their boss, they'd be fired on-the-spot!

Jabber, have you ever seen the YouTube videos showing anchors across the nation saying the EXACT same thing? I'm surprised (as things are going) that YouTube allows them to remain available for us to share.
From Carl Sagan's book "Demon Haunted World":
"I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time .... The dumbing down of America is
most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the
enormously influential media, the 30-second sound bites (now
down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator
programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and
superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance. ...."

montx: Never been on YouTube. But fake news makes a person sad.
If you're like me, the idea of news releases not being the truth never entered my mind. I was of the opinion that reporters had to tell the truth or run the risk of being sued. Too bad that isn't the case.

montx: Ever watch Watters' World? The answers Jesse Watters gets to things every American should know from their High School studies, yet don't know, is astounding. When you say "dumbing down of America" that's putting it mildly.

I don't believe I've even heard of it? Where do I find it? On cable?

I've never seen nor heard of "Watter's World," Jabber, but the situations you are talking about - people being interviewed on video - answering simple questions --and proving to the world that they don't have a clue about basic things like the name of the current US president have been featured on late night TV for decades. So sad!

Jabber, by now you know that these reporters weren't fired - they probably got raises - because the dissemination of fake news by willing media partners is one of the mainstays of certain media like Fox News.

montx, Jesse Watters has his own show on Fox News and he co-hosts "The Five" at 5:00 P.M. Monday to Friday also on Fox News. He used to fill-in for O'Reilly and produce Bill's "Factor" when that was on the air. Jesse did street segments, interviewing people, asking simple questions and getting dumb looks and silly answers.

Thanks, I would never know this, as I don't watch Fox News.

I know you don't watch Fox. But where this "Fake News" topic is concerned, I've even read "Fake News" in local papers about people I've known my entire life. Don't understand how news reporters get away such stuff.