When we live as if we cannot know with absolute certainty what the truth about current news is, we perpetuate the post-modern narrative that there are no absolutes.
As Christians, we believe there is absolute truth. Ultimately, we believe Jesus is absolute Truth.
A very real experience we have on this earth that points us to the fact that there is an Ultimate Truth is that it is possible to “get to the bottom” of something.
There are true facts and there are untrue facts. There are nuances to the true facts that if twisted out of their context can create an allusion of something that is true but actually isn’t.
But there are always ways to verify claims. There are ways to verify information.
The people in my life who seem to have a good handle on reality all have three things in common: (1) they read many different sources, (2) they actively seek out sources that challenge their perspective, and (3) they understand that even after all of that they still don’t know the complete picture and that’s okay.
They don’t always have to be the one who wins the argument.
Here are a few simple practices that can help us get to the bottom of any news item we run across right now, today:
1) Read multiple sources.
Not just one or two. Read a plethora of sources to gain a broader perspective on things. Read from conservative sources. Read from liberal sources. Read from moderate sources. Christian. Non-Christian.
2) Understand the bias of the sources we read from.
The goal is not to find an unbiased source: there are none. And if a source claims to be “unbiased,” it simply means they’re good at marketing.
The goal is to get the biases working against each other because no matter how strong a bias, it can never change the facts. Only reinterpret them. And as we understand the bias of the sources we read, we better understand the actual facts and why they interpreted the facts the way they did.
3) Remember the more obscure the source, the less inherent accountability.
The most wild, earth-shaking, myth busting, whistle-blowing sources are always small, unknown sources. They can get away with radical claims easier than a source with millions of people as its audience.
Large networks will have a bias.. and most of them have really strong bias. But they don’t get away with outright lies quite like more obscure sources do. Plus, the larger sources compete against each other. So if one is lying, a competitor will point it out.
4) Rely on news panels for news and prime-time pundits for entertainment.
Prime time pundits are the bread and butter of news networks, so of course they’re going to have more provocative personalities. Plus, because they’re trying to keep people’s attention, they create points of conflict. As any writer knows, conflict of even the most subtle degree is key to holding people’s attention. Sadly, prime time pundits sometimes create false conflict and get peoples emotions worked up as if there is a true side and false side to an issue, when both sides may in fact be true… and there are reasonable explanations for them.
News panels are typically made up of journalists who are trained in research and writing facts instead of opinion. (Prime time pundits are too, usually. But they have another purpose for their show than just telling news). It’s true there are bad journalists. It’s also still quite true that there are very good journalists. One good way (not the only way) to tell if a journalist is good or not is to see if he or she ever pushes against the bias of the network he or she is working for.
5) Read or listen to first hand accounts.
Sure, even these can be mistaken. But the more first-hand accounts we absorb, the clearer picture of the facts we get.
6) Listen to podcasts of journalists and experts within the particular field we are learning about.
The podcast era has presented us with two phenomenas: (1) journalists aren’t bound by a network who may have a strong bias, but (2) this can lead to many obscure podcasts making wild claims. So, use podcasts in conjunction with traditional networks.
7) Talk with real-life people.
If you agree, have fun. If you disagree, invite them to say more about their perspective instead of trying to prove why their facts aren’t actually facts.
Many of us have settled into a sort of myth that we can’t know anything for sure. This inadvertently sends a message to the world that discourages seeking for truth–even the Truth of Jesus Messiah.
If we want our message about Jesus to be taken seriously, we need to be people of truth in all areas of life. I hope these practices are helpful in establishing a rhythm of “getting to the bottom of things” in a way where the truth of current events makes more sense.
What are some practices of verifying information that you have learned? You can respond in the comments below.
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