No, that is not a catchy head line with a witty turn. It is the truth.
This is the second ´re-posting´ of this blog posting. Weirdly the post seems to become more pertinent with every re-posting.
To make my point: I first wrote this blog in spring 2011, a full five years before ´Fake News´ became a real phenomenon and not just a funny sketch on a comedy show.
And
yes,
there is indeed a lot of rubbish to be seen, heard and read in the
media offerings of most every country. But there is great, going on to
excellent, media resources to be found in America, and elsewhere. One
just has to look in the right places.
As far as I am concerned, the best sources for reliable news six years ago, are still the best today. See below my own personal favorite, but hopefully impartial, media offerings.*
Another thing you will find with these media sources: not all news is bad, a lot is, but not all. There is indeed much to be hopeful about in this little part of the universe we call "world" - as you will see, should you check out the media resources mentioned below.
As far as I am concerned, the best sources for reliable news six years ago, are still the best today. See below my own personal favorite, but hopefully impartial, media offerings.*
Another thing you will find with these media sources: not all news is bad, a lot is, but not all. There is indeed much to be hopeful about in this little part of the universe we call "world" - as you will see, should you check out the media resources mentioned below.
1) The Christian Science Monitor www.csmonitor.com
‘The Monitor Rocks". So say I!
The
is 'the little newspaper that could'. And does. The writing is
balanced and thoughtful. The topics may not be the top themes in your
local area, but they can be of importance and interest globally.
Do
not assume the paper’s content will have a ‘Christian Science’ leaning.
It does not.
Back in 1906, the founder of the paper Mary Baker Eddy, (also the leader of the Christian Science denomination) was so disturbed by the mis-information written about her in the newspapers of the day, she decided to publish a newspaper that offered impartial news coverage.
She passionately believed “truth is the beginning of solutions” and as such, it would be untruthful NOT to have the word ´Christian´ in the name of the paper, even though it is not a paper for people of her faith. - There is however one religious article in the newpaper every week.
Back in 1906, the founder of the paper Mary Baker Eddy, (also the leader of the Christian Science denomination) was so disturbed by the mis-information written about her in the newspapers of the day, she decided to publish a newspaper that offered impartial news coverage.
She passionately believed “truth is the beginning of solutions” and as such, it would be untruthful NOT to have the word ´Christian´ in the name of the paper, even though it is not a paper for people of her faith. - There is however one religious article in the newpaper every week.
(Full
disclosure: I am a shameless plugger of the Christian Science Monitor.
They do a great job at a world class level and this with a circulation
of less than 100,000 so you know they are not in it for the money! And
I am not a Christian Scientist; I don’t believe I even know anybody who
is).
Founded: 1908.
Head Office: Boston U.S. A.
Owner: Christian Science Publishing Society.
2) NPR www.npr.org
Formally
National Public Radio. The blurb on their website says “We produce,
acquire, and distribute programming that meets the highest standards of
public service in journalism and cultural expression”. They do all that
and they do it superbly. I am particularly taken with anything from Democracy Now with Amy Goodman.
Launched: 1971
Head Office: Washington D.C.
Owner: NPR is a membership media organization that is privately and publicly funded.
3) Al Jazeera English (ALJ) english.aljazeera.net
Al
Jazeera English is the Middle East’s equivalent of CNN. It offers 24
hours day news and current affairs programs. All in English. Although
they offer news from all parts of the world, they really have ‘an
insider perspective’ on life in the Middle East. Anyone reading this
article that might be aghast that Al Jazeera sounds ‘too much like THEM
and not enough like US’, should bare in mind Donald Rumsfeld, Colin
Powell and Condoleezza Rice all choose to be interviewed by Al Jazeera
at one time or other. (If you don’t know who the above mentioned people
are, then you definitely need a serious catch up on current affairs!)
Al Jazeera English Launched: 2006.
Its parent company, Al Jazeera was launched in 1996.
Head Office: Qatar.
Owner: Qatar Media Corporation.
4a) BBC World www.bbc.co.uk/news/world
British Broadcasting Company – World Service. Launched: 1932.
Head Office: London, England.
Owner: The English tax payers. In 1922, the B.B.C. received a Royal Charter from the then English monarch George V.
4a) Cable News Network (CNN) www.cnn.com/world/
Launched: 1980.
Head Office: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Owner: Turner Broadcasting System Inc (a Time Warner Company).
CNN,
and BBC, you just can’t beat for being there - where ever ‘there’ is on
any given day. Their journalists and reporters are on the ground when
ever and where ever breaking news is happening. (Full disclosure this
writer is somewhat biased towards Anderson Cooper on CNN - How can one
not be?)
5) Link TV https://www.linktv.org/about
The TV channel and website offers “a global perspective on news, events and culture” They draw “on varied reliable news sources from all over the world for its content”. They also offer news and cultural programs for non-English speaking audiences. They really do live up to that, for example, you can see Al Jazeerea on Link TV when you cannot receive it in your own cable network area.
The TV channel and website offers “a global perspective on news, events and culture” They draw “on varied reliable news sources from all over the world for its content”. They also offer news and cultural programs for non-English speaking audiences. They really do live up to that, for example, you can see Al Jazeerea on Link TV when you cannot receive it in your own cable network area.
Launched: 1999
Head Office: San Francisco, U.S.A.
Owner: Media Link.
6) Raidió Teilifís Éireann the Irish National Radio and T.V. Network. http://www.rte.ie/
Great bang for your buck. A little station that, in my opinion goes big on news, the arts, satire, sport, documentaries. You name it, RTE covers it.
6) Raidió Teilifís Éireann the Irish National Radio and T.V. Network. http://www.rte.ie/
Great bang for your buck. A little station that, in my opinion goes big on news, the arts, satire, sport, documentaries. You name it, RTE covers it.
If
one took 10 minutes a day 6 days a week to inform oneself on news and
current affairs – just one hour a week, I suggest, that would give you
at least a sense of “what is going on in our world now.”
Note:
I am not financially or in any other way connected with any of these
news outlets, save I have a very great respect for people and news
sources that strive to offer relevant impartial news coverage.* I only speak English fluently so I can only comment on English language media. But several of these media resources also offer excellent non-English news program options. This is a quick overview; you can find out more about every news source mentioned above on their website.
Oh and did I say... I LOVE the Christian Science Monitor!
