Beware of News Summaries

I saw an advertisement by a well know news site that offered to give readers a summary of the news each day.  I always cringe when I see information touted as being news pushed out towards someone.  The viewer/reader needs to be aware that someone has constructed these "news" items based on some one else's decision on what news should be important to you.  No one asked you what specific news items you want to receive.  What you receive are the information biases and priorities of someone else or a group of people.

There are thousands of events occurring all over the world each day.  From that vast number maybe you are given information on less than 100 events.  Why are those 100 events more important than the others?  They are not.  They may be important to someone else, but they likely are not the top 100 stories you would have picked if you were aware of all the happenings in the world.

In addition, there are some events that are hidden from the public view.  Those stories may appear later if they involve wrongdoing that someone exposes. But until the expose' occurs you are unaware it is news.  Confused?  Well don't be.  People try to hide bad news if it is something they do not want revealed.  The recent #metoo movement that exposed sexual abuse of women.  Those stories were around years ago, but the information wasn't always publicly shared or there were attempts to keep the story quiet so as not to expose the perpetrators.  Time has caught up with those "news makers".

How do we get the real news.  Unfortunately you have to search for it.  Use multiple sources to obtain information.  What you hear and see on television are carefully constructed news stories sometimes presented in an entertainment form.  Now we have "Fake news".  Another challenge to obtaining the truth.  In this video age, sometimes a video can tell a story without the need for an accompanying narrative.

My suggestion.  Watch less news on television.  Seek out multiple news outlets via the internet, to include how foreign countries view events occurring in the United States of America.  Ask questions regarding events you hear about.  Seek the truth behind what is being force fed to you.  Lastly, beware of news summaries.  There are different sides to the stories you are given.