Posted on Aug 15, 2017
SGT Writer
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For reference, my definition of "information overload" is a time when people are bombarded with so much cleverly biased information and manipulative advertising that many simply accept what they hear or read without analyzing or at least questioning it.

Am I out of line? Am I missing something? Share your thoughts.
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Responses: 8
Sarah Zayas
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I think the reason why journalists are biased is because they need to get paid. Money corrupts and influences our news. Journalism is an art and artists usually starve. I think journalists who can accurately record facts void of opinions should be rewarded by their peers the way doctors gets their work published. Perhaps the people of America can decide how to systematically reward good journalists but I think journalists should go through a review board that judges their work. Opinions and events must be kept seperate.
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Sarah, that's actually a good suggestion. Journalists rate us whenever they want to and most of the time without impunity and just changing the channel or not buying a newspaper (for those of us who still like to read one) really won't make an impact in today's society. You're right, if they can rate/report/lie or fabricate information (not all journalists are bad some do good work) about anyone maybe we need a official way of rating journalists so their editors and owners can see what the public really thinks of an individual or organization. I would hope if it was possible the public could do it with honesty and tact so that it doesn't turn into a joke but a useful tool.

If the public remarks were left private and not viewable by everyone and someone could not leave replies to our remarks it might just remain civil and accomplish something.
Sarah Zayas
Sarah Zayas
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Right! I'm of the opinion that we get the best criticism from our peers in the field because they won't let you get away with anything if it gives them the opportunity to show off their own knowledge. Witnesses should be able to call out journalists that get the facts wrong!
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
PO3 Steven Sherrill
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SFC Randy Hensley - Sarah Zayas A better business bureau type rating for reporters? I don't think the idea is bad. The problem will always come back to people. People are hard wired to for fight or flight. It is not just from physical threats. It is threats to our emotional, psychological, and ideological well being. Most of us will fight when our beliefs are challenged usually not physically, but we will fight to some extent. Trying to get people to rate journalists without letting personal biases get in the way will be a tall order. Think of your least favorite person to see on the news. Do you think you could rate them without letting that personal opinion factor into the rating? No matter how you try to isolate, at some point there are people involved. People with preconceived notions, biases, opinions, beliefs, and ideas. Trying to get people to look at things objectively is where the problem will occur. On the consumer side of the equation, you will have people who defer to the rating, and stop thinking. A+ Reporter Joe Schmucketely reporting from the scene of the cat fire means it all must be true, accurate, because he has an A+ rating. Forget about the burning Camaro in the background, he has an A+ so it is not a car fire, there is a burning cat nearby. Yes that is overly simplified, but it is the mentality that our modern society has been conditioned to use.
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Cpl Justin Goolsby
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Honestly, more people need to learn how to unplug. I personally don't bring anything home with me. My home is meant for relaxation. I don't want to be angry or upset while I'm with my family.

People don't know how to unplug these days.
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
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SGT (Join to see) it is like a drug. People crave it. It is so successful because people crave it. The problem is that the wrong thing is craved. Facts are craved less than opinion. If a fact doesn't fit the view, it is irrelevant. There is no room for a civilized debate because it devolves into poop throwing and violence. Yellow journalism has been around for a long time, but it used to be the exception. Now it is the rule. News outlets should not have political agendas. News outlets should not be driving opinion. News outlets should be providing people with unbiased factual information so that people can form their own opinions based on personal reaction to facts. There is still room for opinion stories. Those stories should be limited to local sources, cute animal stories, sports, or weather. There should be no opinion in news items. I am not saying that reporters should not have an opinion, or personality. I am saying that opinions should be presented as a debate or at the very least be identified as such. Additionally, news outlets should not be choosing what news to report based on agenda either. There is where the problems start to build. Who decides what is important enough to report. Is a fire at an apartment complex news? How about the first day of school? Police Shooting? Prescription drug abuse? Concealed Carry Laws? Who is deciding what qualifies as news is just as important as who is presenting that information.
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