Not Like I Used To #MFRWAuthor

Welcome to Week 22 of the 2020 MFRW 52-week challenge. The topic is "How Do You Get Your News."

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Although there is still a city paper for the nearest city, I live in the adjoining county. The paper doesn't cover any news beyond the city limits or from our side of the county line. So, no getting news from a local paper. By the time the weekly county paper is printed, the news is a bit stale. The other paper that covers the local area is primarily for legal notices and an occasional press release from some business miles away.

Which leaves broadcast media (television, radio), online, or social media. Social media is out. As a former correspondent, I know immediate information isn't always accurate. I do end up watching a regularly-scheduled local news program. A certain family member has to watch it, no matter how many times I beg to change the channel or have him watch it from another room. Other than the weather, for much of the reporting it seems the rules by which I was taught including, "Don't interject your own opinion." are broken on a regular basis. In fact, some reporters brag about their activism. Even before today's acrimonious political climate, one channel's  (won't say which public broadcast station) news borderlined on brainwashing.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Then there are the network stations. When there is a break-in of regular non-news programming for a news flash or the wall-to-wall" coverage of a storm, you can often hear me paraphrase what is being said.

"Something happened. We don't know what, but we have to say something , so we're saying something. Once we know something, we will say something, but until then we'll keep talking even though we don't know anything."

Then there is the interview which is basically nothing except:

"Give me XXX. Even though I haven't earned it, I am entitled to it because I want it. So you need to give me XXX, no matter what the cost."

So, how do I get my news. Any place I can get it in a fairly timely fashion, accurate and without bias. Sometimes I even get it from local residents.

~till next time, Helen