DO YOU STILL TRUST THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA?
@notewise777 (247)
Cape Town, South Africa
June 7, 2018 9:16pm CST
The President of the United States of America has since the day he announced his presidency, waged a war with the Media referring to it as FAKE NEWS.
Here in South Africa, our former president (Jacob Zuma) used to refer to the media when confronted with corruption allegations as Fake News outlets - even though - his press corp usually consisted of seasoned reputable journalists and media scholars.
In Britain (before & during Brexit) & the rest of Europe (before, during and after election campaigns), many Right-winged groups have spread the notion successfully that the mainstream media is fake.
With this in mind, DO YOU STILL TRUST THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA and if so, why?
Alternative if not, I would also appreciate your views on why you feel the media does not have sufficient credibility.
Keep it clean please (no political slogans/stances) - Thank you.
8 people like this
13 responses
@lynnief (1203)
• Australia
8 Jun 18
First of all, we need to understand that there is no such thing as "an unbiased opinion." Every one of us has biases, and whether consciously or subconsciously all of our opinions are shaped by those biases. However, I do find that here in Australia most of the mainstream media seems to be pressured to conform to the "politically correct" stance, and therefore all the news we receive is processed through that filter.
4 people like this
@lynnief (1203)
• Australia
9 Jun 18
@notewise777 I don't mean "politically" as in party politics, but "politically correct" as in that which the Powers That Be have deemed to be the acceptable view, and have foisted upon the general population to the extent that any dissenting view is seen as wrong or even evil.
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
@lynnief So you are of the view that the mainstream media is somehow politically influenced? That's if I understand your viewpoint correctly - which, respectfully in my view - doesn't it seem a bit far fetched?
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
25 Jun 18
@lynnief Ah, duly noted - thanks so much for clarifying.
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
8 Jun 18
Hi Heinrich. Here in my country, mainstream media is a a waste of time as they were biased all the time.
3 people like this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
8 Jun 18
@kepweng They take sides instead of being objective.
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
So why do you think they would risk their journalistic reputations through such an approach?
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
Well said - I wholeheartedly agree with you. We still have individual intelligence which we ought to use when absorbing any new information wouldn't you agree?
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129430)
• Israel
8 Jun 18
@CookieMonster46
Most of the media does not print the truth. They make up whatever they want to print just to sell stories. I only go to certain new stations online in Israel to follow things. One for sure I trust very much because they know what is going on here.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (129430)
• Israel
10 Jun 18
@notewise777
The media places outside of Israel do not print the truth or the facts. They make up things and only say that Israel is to blame for everything or the Jews are always to blame for things that go wrong. Not accepting their own responsibliity. They make up stories. We finally have our own country and a great army and they tell us not to defend ourselves. Now, others can defend theirselves but we cannot. We do not listen anyways.
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
25 Jun 18
@Hannihar That is your prerogative and I respect that - In fact, I respect anyone that takes a firm stance in what they believe in and thank you for your valued feedback - have a pleasant week ahead.
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
Not to go into a political debate with you but what in your view is going on in Israeli mainstream media that would make you distrust them so much?
1 person likes this
@sw8sincere (5204)
• Philippines
8 Jun 18
i don't really trust the mainstream media.. .I listened and read but never trust any.
2 people like this
@sw8sincere (5204)
• Philippines
9 Jun 18
@notewise777 Well, my friend,. because most of them are only posted to gain attention and popularity and somehow others are misleading.
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
@sw8sincere Like I said from the outset - I respect all views. HOWEVER, I would like to understand your reasons for your distrust if you don't mind?
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
25 Jun 18
@sw8sincere That is your perspective my friend - Let us agree to disagree and just enjoy life - what do you say? In any event, thank you though for your valued feedback - I indeed value all perspectives of the debate.
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
8 Jun 18
I don't watch or read the news. I got tired of the same ole, same ole. 
3 people like this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
8 Jun 18
@notewise777 All of the news in mainstream media is negative. There are many positive things going on in the world that is newsworthy, but none of it gets written up or broadcasted. I got tired of the negative vibes from television and newspapers and I just look for positive things in my everyday life.
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
@Starmaiden I absolutely agree with you that too much negativity gets reported, but don't you feel that isolating yourself from ANY news is in some way a bit irresponsible?
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
When you used to watch or read it however - did you trust it and if not? What did they do to develop such feelings towards them?
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
8 Jun 18
Yes, I still trust the mainstream media.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
9 Jun 18
@notewise777 it is a matter of choosing which mainstream media outlets to listen to.
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
Can you elaborate on your viewpoint - what are your reasons for your trust?
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26200)
• Singapore
9 Jun 18
@notewise777 Some are trying to be but even on BBC, which Iike, I can see at times biased coverage.
The others twist and turn to protect their turf - siva
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
So if I understand your opinion correctly you're basically saying that no such thing as neutral news reporting exists?
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (115985)
• United States
8 Jun 18
of course I do! Trump has been bashing regular media for the past couple of years and calling it "fake news", especially when they report stories that are negative against him. Leslie Stahl recently put out the Trump quote that "He said, 'You know why I do it? I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you.'
Veteran "60 Minutes" correspondent says Trump admitted attacking press so "no one will believe" negative stories about him
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
Which is actually quite disheartening for any leader to do as the media is basically the direct link between the citizens of any country and their government officials. Why do you think though that so many share his views?
@thedevilinme (3904)
• Northampton, England
14 Jun 18
At least with Americas TV media you have both right and left and center so good debate. LEft wing in the UK
1 person likes this
@thedevilinme (3904)
• Northampton, England
25 Jun 18
@notewise777 our TV media is very centrist. Our printed press is right wing
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
25 Jun 18
@thedevilinme So you feel there is no neutrality in the UK media?
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
25 Jun 18
@thedevilinme Wow, one would never figure that if one looks at the portrayal of the UK in general on the global stage pertaining to its press freedom.
@saritflor (3914)
• Hungary
25 Jun 18
For the matter of fact I almost not watching it, and for your answer, no and no... media is for the rich.
1 person likes this
@saritflor (3914)
• Hungary
25 Jun 18
@notewise777 Thank you, I love to read different viewpoints too, it enrich the discussion
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
25 Jun 18
@saritflor Which is your choice and I appreciate your feedback. Different viewpoints always welcome
@AlisaTR (936)
• Trinidad And Tobago
8 Jun 18
Honestly, politics aside, I do not trust everything published by the media for the very reasons that @lynnief states, "there is no such thing as an unbiased opinion". I do think that they provide us with news, and they might, in many cases, be our best bet at the moment... by way of gathering, fact checking, processing and delivering information as news... but I think that it is important to still try to verify the information you get from the media from other sources.
1 person likes this
@AlisaTR (936)
• Trinidad And Tobago
9 Jun 18
@notewise777 I think because it's easy and convenient and most of us are just lazy so we just go with what we are told.
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
Love your response and you're absolutely correct. We all have a part to play in the distribution and receipt of accurate information; so why do you think the majority of us don't even bother to do fact checking?
1 person likes this
@Craigba (40)
• Kempton Park, South Africa
8 Jun 18
I always used to enjoy the stories on MyBroadband, because they always tried to give two sides of the story - although it always seemed very anti-ANC, I saw a story about the DA not doing their parts properly. Was nice to see two sides (not just one)
1 person likes this
@notewise777 (247)
• Cape Town, South Africa
8 Jun 18
I feel you on that one - I too appreciate unbiased accurate reporting as I believe that the media should merely be messengers of the news - not the creators thereof.
