There is a fairly new term that has been doing the rounds for the past few weeks: Fake News. The implication is that journalists and the media are fabricating lies to further their political persuasion.

I remember how different things were when I grew up. The radio played music or broadcast comedy shows for most of every hour, leaving only a few minutes to broadcast news, sports, and weather. We had a weekly community newspaper and a newspaper from the nearby town. The test pattern began and ended on television day, which was mostly filled with live shows and commercials. Often we are not even aware of events that occurred in another geographic area for several days.

We now have television 24 hours a day with an almost unlimited number of channels that offer breaking news about crimes and events that are happening live around the world. Global newspapers can be found quickly through simple clicks on the Internet. We have become accustomed to having instant access to any information we want or need.

In psychology we learn that opinions are just thoughts and therefore it is easy to find different opinions on any topic. Both thoughts and opinions can change quickly, especially if new information becomes available.

I think it must be difficult for today’s media considering all the expectations for them to provide interesting programming 24 hours a day. If a channel’s mandate is to focus on politics, it should feature guests and topics that appeal to the viewer. matter how little news politicians generate that day or week. As a result, presenters and guests have to take what they have, repeat it, and “twist” it to keep people tuning in.

Think about what could happen if you and your friends sat together for hours talking about politics. After recounting the most recent current event, there may be some “what if” statements or speculation about why that happened or even what might happen next. It won’t be long until “maybe” is cited as fact.

Because the Internet is unregulated, anyone can post whatever they want. Thoughts, opinions and not necessarily the truth.

Here are some tips that can help you figure things out:
1. Don’t assume that everything you read, hear or see is accurate.
2. Take into account that the demand for continuous news and broadcasts has created a vacuum that must be filled by the media.
3. Come on! Most of what is discussed or written is not under your control. You don’t have to listen or read everything that’s available and you sure don’t have to fix things.
4. Remember to make healthy choices and balance your life instead of just focusing on the news.