Verify
As we approach the elections, news stories become increasingly
easy to confuse with political advertisements. Though I’m generally a huge fan
of fiction, when it comes to political reporting, I find myself in the Joe
Friday camp.
That’s right Ma’am, just the facts.
When a news story involves a candidate’s claims of past
successes, I expect the claims will be confirmed by the news source, and
the results of this fact-checking will be included in the story. By definition,
news sources should be involved in verifying their sources, in substantiating
claims, in authenticating, & corroborating.
This brings me to celebrate once more, the synonyms entries
found in any decent, grown-up dictionary. My 1959 Webster’s New World
Dictionary offers these synonyms & definitions for verify. These words, I
submit, provide a healthy mantra for reporters, readers, listeners & viewers
during this election season.
confirm is to establish as true, that
which was doubtful or uncertain
substantiate suggests the producing of evidence
that proves or tends to prove the validity of a previous assertion or claim
corroborate suggests the strengthening of one
statement or testimony by another
to verify is to prove to be true or correct
by investigation, comparison with a standard, or reference to ascertainable
facts
authenticate provides proof of genuineness by
an authority or expert
validate implies official confirmation of
the validity of something
Dear followers, please respond by either complimenting news
sources you’ve found that seem to see the above as part of the day’s work, or
mentioning those sources that flagrantly ignore the above responsibilities. You
might also suggest other mantras that might help us in these politically
polarized times.
My thanks go out to this week’s sources, Etymoniline.com, The OED,
& Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language, 1959.
There's a cute picture in my Facebook feed of "your brain on facts" (chimp hugs tiger kitten) vs. "your brain on Fox" (chimp aims gun at everybody.) But yanno--confirming, substantiating, verifying,authenticating and validating takes sooo much time. Why do that when you can kill people first?
ReplyDeleteI looked up "media" : the means of communication with wide range and influence. I looked up "influence": the power to produce effects on others...the power to persuade or obtain advantages. I think the media needs to look itself up in the dictionary and own its profound "responsibility" : the state or FACT of being responsible.
ReplyDeleteHi Christine & Anne,
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you. Christine, bravo for hitting the dictionary (whether digital or otherwise). I love this stuff. Anne, I really do believe a huge contributor to our polarized politics is the collection of tiny variables which cause each of us to believe in our new sources of choice. Historically, the victor has written the history, but these days it seems the history is pre-written by our chosen media sources. What to do, what to do?