“Good News!”
Mr. Jonathan McNair began his forum to the LivingEd students by discussing how there is a constant stream of news, with much of it negative, as the world spirals further away from God. If we are not careful, we can be easily influenced b
y it. We have a responsibility to watch world events and be aware of what is going on in the world but still analyze what we are taking in.
“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man”, we read in Luke 21:36.
Mr. McNair went on to discuss how those in the Church can effectively evaluate the news sources to which we read and listen, to avoid being manipulated.
Factors that influence the news we consume
Several factors such as age and political leaning lead us to consume certain types of news. Younger people tend to favor getting their news online whereas older people are more likely to watch news stations. Those in the world who have political leanings tend to side with news outlets that agree with their opinions. Whether we are aware of it or not, we tend to get our news from sources to which we relate and sympathize.
“The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness” (Proverbs 15:4).
We must be aware of our tendencies to gravitate towards certain news sources and evaluate whether they have all the facts. We must seek out the truth and be aware that news media organizations may be feeding us exactly what we want to hear for their gain, not necessarily because it’s true. They are in the business of making money.
Challenge Yourself
What are the biases? How accurate is the news? Do you have all the information on the topic? All news sources will have bias; however, it is a matter of identifying what the bias is and the strength of it. Consider from where the author or news outlet is coming. Certain words may be used by a group of news outlets with the same biases. Is the information true, or is it somewhat fabricated? When we learn about a current event, we may not be getting the complete story. By choosing to relate or quote from certain news sources that are strongly biased or inaccurate we undermine your credibility.
Strategies to Evaluate Your News
System: Think about the bias of the news organization and realize their job is to grab your attention.
Source: News outlets that appear different may be using each other’s stories for their content.
Perspective: Be aware of the perspectives of the news source and your own. Younger people often view world events differently than older generations. Yourself: You will have a bias towards what you see and hear. It is crucial to realize and learn from those preconceived biases.
Final Thoughts
Even though we are commanded to watch for end-time events, this doesn’t mean we can switch off our brains when we watch, listen, or read the news. Our brains must be ready to analyze what we are consuming so that we are not led astray.