As John Houseman writes in his book Run THrough, CBS announced at the beginning of the War of the World's broadcast, that H.G. Wells' War of the World was being presented.
This program was being broadcast at the same time as Edgar Bergan's [a well known ventriloquist] program.
Bergan finished his opening routine and a not very good singer came on.
People turned the tuning dial and hit the War of the World's program. THus listeners had missed the open statement that a presentation of Wells' play was being broadcast.
How could some listeners believe some much had occurred from the beginning of the program until CBS announced that listeners were listening to a dramatization of Well's play.
This was a time of less than 30 minutes.
“Russian intelligence operatives could target their messages to specific portions of the electorate residing in key swing states, with propaganda tailor-made for small, specialized audiences already primed for persuasion.”
If you replace “Russian intelligence” with “Advertising and PR” it describes the entire domestic political campaign. It bothers me that Russia did it, but it’s worse that we do it to ourselves and each other all year.
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In addition to critical thinking, civics needs to be taught in all middle and high schools. We need to have knowledge about how government works, the constitution, and the election system to be prepared for the future.
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Many people believed his famous “War of the Worlds” broadcast — but many didn’t. The difference is that some people are really stupid.
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I believe TV news viewers could benefit from a ratings system something like movie ratings. Scores for relative accuracy and the absence of bias.
The cumulative effect on major news, especially Fox News (being the worst example of pro-presidential bias) were rated by a group of peers and experts and required to display that rating at intervals, would be gently pressured into the "ballpark of objectivity".
In addition, the "Fox News" logo could not be displayed on shows that were clearly opinion like "The Five" or "Tucker Carlson". "Hannity" would simply be labeled "XXX".
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ah yes, “...REASONABLE LIMITS on how SOME ideas are expressed.”
Why hasn't the FCC sanctioned FOX News?
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I do not trust Facebook, and never have trusted them. I have never had a Facebook account. One action that everyone can take is to cancel their Facebook account and never to use that platform again.
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@Old Mountain Man - I cancelled my FB account March 1, 2018. FB is still sending me e-mail notifications when I receive a post. Anyone know how to end this intrusion?
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@Old Mountain Man: One must approach Facebook and any other aggregating or sharing websites the same way as one would approach a roadside vacant lot flea market. You know nothing about the operator or his wares, so the rule is "give no credence to representations, especially 'trust me, not them'" and don't buy unless one is well familiar with the merchandise itself and the open market value thereof.
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The lessons for today are persistent clarity in the presentation and attentiveness in the reception. It was clearly stated at the beginning of the broadcast that the following was a dramatization of the Wells novel, and no one who paid attention had anything to be worried about. What hysteria developed was limited, and it occurred in people who tuned on late, acted on hearsay, and were gullible. If the Mercury Theatre had a do-over, it should have repeated the clarification at every station break. The modern lesson for listeners is to pay attention, be critical, evaluate alternative interpretations, and check the facts. That was hard to do in 1938, when real-time news sources were limited; it shouldn't be hard today as long as we have a free press.
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I disagree. As Hitler stated: "If you tell a lie long enough and loud enough it becomes the truth"
Continuing, he also said:
"But the most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly and with unflagging attention. It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over. Here, as so often in this world, persistence is the first and most important requirement for success."
The above could have been written by anybody in the GOP, by POTUS, by the new SCOTUS, by the Majority Leaders of the Senate and House. It is the mantra by which they live.
In any event - A broadcast or a written account meant as entertainment is not fake news. Otherwise the play Julius Caesar by Shakespeare is as well as indeed would be any deliberate work of fiction. Fake news is a deliberate attempt to sway by using outright lies and/or partial truths and claiming that the account is truthful and accurate. An honest error is not fake news - as long as it really is an honest error.
I may not like and may not necessarily agree with many true statements; that does not make them fake.
We do not need to be taught "reflexive skepticism"; we need to be taught logic. Instead, on the left and right, we are taught "feelings" (I don't like it therefore it is bad/a lie/fake/etc).
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I agree that critical thinking with respect to distinguishing “fake news” and how to confirm facts needs to be taught in junior high and high school curriculum. This is one of the greatest challenges we must undertake to address a polarized society.
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Education using critical thinking is needed to limit a panic mentality. We will always have people that like to panic, but there is no need for it to be large chunks of the population. Introduce debating into high school classes to encourage critical thinking. We live in a world of misinformation (and not just of the trump kind) and for our own protection need to be able to think critically. Don't be afraid to think outside of the crowd.
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Good article
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This cure is more dangerous than the disease.
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