Faking It!

1894 Puch satirical cartoon
Andrea/Cara here
, I saw this 1894 cartoon from Punch magazine the other day, and it was a good reminder that our current media brouhaha over “fake news” and “alternative facts” are, alas, nothing new. History shows that from time we first learned to communicate with each other, be it in telling stories around the fire, painting pictograms on cave walls, or writing on a clay tablet, we’ve tended to shape our narratives based on the view through our own tinted spectacles! (As Winston Churchill said, “History will be kind to me because I intend to write it.”

Yellow-pressThere have been some particularly outrageous times of media hype and spin in history—the 1890s in America is one prime example. Hearst’s newspapers pretty much ignited the Spanish-American War though its outright lies. The term “yellow journalism”, which refers to outrageous, sensationalist headlines just to sell papers, was created in response the press manipulation of public opinion.

The Georgian and Regency eras had their own excesses, too. In doing a little research, I discovered they, too, were well skilled in the art of fake news and inciting scandal. The 18th century saw the advent of “paragraph” men. It seems that many of the newspapers were based on simply compiling snippets, or paragraphs, supplied by people who frequented the London clubs, coffeehouses and social activities. Some were paid, and some did it just to be able to sway public opinion.



300px-Gainsborough_The-Rev.-Sir-Henry-Bate-DudleyWere facts important? Um, not so much. The paragraph men could skewer whoever they disliked—or be paid by a politician to do dirty work against an opponent. And human nature being what it is, the more outrageous the accusation or the reported transgression, the more it titillated the public.

A leader of  “fake news” was the Reverend Sir Henry Bate Dudley, who founded The Morning Post in 1772. One of his most famous bouncers was reporting in 1784 that Marie Antoinette was keeping an English gigolo:

The Gallic Queen is partial to the English. In fact, the majority of her favorites are of this country; but no one has been so notoriously supported by her as Mr. W—-. Though this gentleman’s purse was known to be dérangé when he went to Paris, yet he has ever since lived there in the first style of elegance, taste and fashion. His carriages, his liveries, his table have all been upheld with the utmost expense and splendor.

In-the-straw-cropAfter quarreling with his partners at The Morning Post, Bate went on to found a rival scandalsheet called The Morning Herald. (Bate was dubbed the Dueling Preacher because of his love fighting with both fists and pistols. He challenged one of his erstwhile partners to a duel, and was also said to have thrashed a professional boxer to a pulp at Vauxhall Gardens over a supposed insult to a lady.)  

The Morning Post then hired an even more outrageous editor, the Reverend William Jackson, who was known as “Dr. Viper” for his extreme nastiness. (What is it with these Men of the Cloth!) The ensuing press battles make our own era look rather tame! At one point, Bate was sentenced to a year in prison for libeling the Duke of Richmond. And the great Samuel Johnson was quoted as saying, “I will not allow this man [Bate] to have merit; no, Sir, what he has is rather the contrary.”

Along with his slanders, Bate also had a knack for self-promotion marketing his scandalsheets. “Pre-gaming” our own era’s understanding of drawing attention through spectacle, he once sent out forty men dressed in gaudy uniforms to pass out handbills on Piccadilly Street with snippets from his newspaper.

A+York+addresses+a+whaleAnd then, of course, there were the satirical cartoonists, who were also merciless in pouncing on the peccadilloes of the rich and famous. Their motto seemed to be “Truth be Damned” if it made a good image! One contemporary called James Gillray, one of the leading artists of the era  “a caterpillar on the leaf of reputation.” (The image shown here of Vauxhall Gardens is said to include both Bate and Jackson, along with other notable people of the era.)

VauxhallI’m not sure whether all this makes me feel better or worse about the current state of the news. What with all the bloggers and blatantly phony “news” sites given life by the internet, it seems truth is even more elusive than ever. I find myself reading the newspapers less, simply because it’s depressing to see all the mudslinging going on instead of rational, constructive discourse.

What about you? Where do you turn for “real” news these days? Or like me, are you tuning out as much as possible? I must say, for me, reading a good book is far more uplifting than reading the daily headlines!

120 thoughts on “Faking It!”

  1. When I talked with my brother in the States, we discussed fake news. I made two points: there’s almost always some truth within the fake news that makes it credible, and news (fake, slanted, pick your label) typically has made money for some. (There’s also spectacular failures.)
    I admit I am addicted to news. When I was 12, I was interested in the Saturday Night Massacre related to Watergate. My family could care less about politics. I pay a lot to get CNN International to feed my addiction. I am also an avid reader of historical romance to the point of obsession. There’s something to be said about being in normal life of friends and family, a balance that I struggle with. Watching politics and reading books don’t require engaging uncomfortable interactions and dealing with the hard realities of aging and death.

    Reply
  2. When I talked with my brother in the States, we discussed fake news. I made two points: there’s almost always some truth within the fake news that makes it credible, and news (fake, slanted, pick your label) typically has made money for some. (There’s also spectacular failures.)
    I admit I am addicted to news. When I was 12, I was interested in the Saturday Night Massacre related to Watergate. My family could care less about politics. I pay a lot to get CNN International to feed my addiction. I am also an avid reader of historical romance to the point of obsession. There’s something to be said about being in normal life of friends and family, a balance that I struggle with. Watching politics and reading books don’t require engaging uncomfortable interactions and dealing with the hard realities of aging and death.

    Reply
  3. When I talked with my brother in the States, we discussed fake news. I made two points: there’s almost always some truth within the fake news that makes it credible, and news (fake, slanted, pick your label) typically has made money for some. (There’s also spectacular failures.)
    I admit I am addicted to news. When I was 12, I was interested in the Saturday Night Massacre related to Watergate. My family could care less about politics. I pay a lot to get CNN International to feed my addiction. I am also an avid reader of historical romance to the point of obsession. There’s something to be said about being in normal life of friends and family, a balance that I struggle with. Watching politics and reading books don’t require engaging uncomfortable interactions and dealing with the hard realities of aging and death.

    Reply
  4. When I talked with my brother in the States, we discussed fake news. I made two points: there’s almost always some truth within the fake news that makes it credible, and news (fake, slanted, pick your label) typically has made money for some. (There’s also spectacular failures.)
    I admit I am addicted to news. When I was 12, I was interested in the Saturday Night Massacre related to Watergate. My family could care less about politics. I pay a lot to get CNN International to feed my addiction. I am also an avid reader of historical romance to the point of obsession. There’s something to be said about being in normal life of friends and family, a balance that I struggle with. Watching politics and reading books don’t require engaging uncomfortable interactions and dealing with the hard realities of aging and death.

    Reply
  5. When I talked with my brother in the States, we discussed fake news. I made two points: there’s almost always some truth within the fake news that makes it credible, and news (fake, slanted, pick your label) typically has made money for some. (There’s also spectacular failures.)
    I admit I am addicted to news. When I was 12, I was interested in the Saturday Night Massacre related to Watergate. My family could care less about politics. I pay a lot to get CNN International to feed my addiction. I am also an avid reader of historical romance to the point of obsession. There’s something to be said about being in normal life of friends and family, a balance that I struggle with. Watching politics and reading books don’t require engaging uncomfortable interactions and dealing with the hard realities of aging and death.

    Reply
  6. The world has always operated on lies and half-truths. Just look how many young men were tricked into thinking enlisting in history’s major wars was all going to be fun and games.
    I don’t really understand why “propaganda” was changed to “fake news” after the last US election. They’re the same thing, but the media always loves a new buzz word – my guess it it’ll be named the “word of 2017”.
    Various studies have shown that the internet only makes the situation worse. Instead of seeking out the truth, people are more likely to seek out sites that reinforce what they already think.
    I don’t have the luxury of tuning out when it has been my own community being skewered by the Kremlin propaganda machine for the last few years.

    Reply
  7. The world has always operated on lies and half-truths. Just look how many young men were tricked into thinking enlisting in history’s major wars was all going to be fun and games.
    I don’t really understand why “propaganda” was changed to “fake news” after the last US election. They’re the same thing, but the media always loves a new buzz word – my guess it it’ll be named the “word of 2017”.
    Various studies have shown that the internet only makes the situation worse. Instead of seeking out the truth, people are more likely to seek out sites that reinforce what they already think.
    I don’t have the luxury of tuning out when it has been my own community being skewered by the Kremlin propaganda machine for the last few years.

    Reply
  8. The world has always operated on lies and half-truths. Just look how many young men were tricked into thinking enlisting in history’s major wars was all going to be fun and games.
    I don’t really understand why “propaganda” was changed to “fake news” after the last US election. They’re the same thing, but the media always loves a new buzz word – my guess it it’ll be named the “word of 2017”.
    Various studies have shown that the internet only makes the situation worse. Instead of seeking out the truth, people are more likely to seek out sites that reinforce what they already think.
    I don’t have the luxury of tuning out when it has been my own community being skewered by the Kremlin propaganda machine for the last few years.

    Reply
  9. The world has always operated on lies and half-truths. Just look how many young men were tricked into thinking enlisting in history’s major wars was all going to be fun and games.
    I don’t really understand why “propaganda” was changed to “fake news” after the last US election. They’re the same thing, but the media always loves a new buzz word – my guess it it’ll be named the “word of 2017”.
    Various studies have shown that the internet only makes the situation worse. Instead of seeking out the truth, people are more likely to seek out sites that reinforce what they already think.
    I don’t have the luxury of tuning out when it has been my own community being skewered by the Kremlin propaganda machine for the last few years.

    Reply
  10. The world has always operated on lies and half-truths. Just look how many young men were tricked into thinking enlisting in history’s major wars was all going to be fun and games.
    I don’t really understand why “propaganda” was changed to “fake news” after the last US election. They’re the same thing, but the media always loves a new buzz word – my guess it it’ll be named the “word of 2017”.
    Various studies have shown that the internet only makes the situation worse. Instead of seeking out the truth, people are more likely to seek out sites that reinforce what they already think.
    I don’t have the luxury of tuning out when it has been my own community being skewered by the Kremlin propaganda machine for the last few years.

    Reply
  11. Actually, this post reminds me of an image from The Blitz called “St Paul’s Survives” (it can be found on Wikipedia), where St Paul’s Cathedral rises above buildings burning all around it.
    The British press used the picture as a sign London couldn’t be defeated.
    Germany used the same image as proof the bombing campaign was a success.
    Propaganda was the first unit we did in media studies at university. I think it should be a compulsory subject!

    Reply
  12. Actually, this post reminds me of an image from The Blitz called “St Paul’s Survives” (it can be found on Wikipedia), where St Paul’s Cathedral rises above buildings burning all around it.
    The British press used the picture as a sign London couldn’t be defeated.
    Germany used the same image as proof the bombing campaign was a success.
    Propaganda was the first unit we did in media studies at university. I think it should be a compulsory subject!

    Reply
  13. Actually, this post reminds me of an image from The Blitz called “St Paul’s Survives” (it can be found on Wikipedia), where St Paul’s Cathedral rises above buildings burning all around it.
    The British press used the picture as a sign London couldn’t be defeated.
    Germany used the same image as proof the bombing campaign was a success.
    Propaganda was the first unit we did in media studies at university. I think it should be a compulsory subject!

    Reply
  14. Actually, this post reminds me of an image from The Blitz called “St Paul’s Survives” (it can be found on Wikipedia), where St Paul’s Cathedral rises above buildings burning all around it.
    The British press used the picture as a sign London couldn’t be defeated.
    Germany used the same image as proof the bombing campaign was a success.
    Propaganda was the first unit we did in media studies at university. I think it should be a compulsory subject!

    Reply
  15. Actually, this post reminds me of an image from The Blitz called “St Paul’s Survives” (it can be found on Wikipedia), where St Paul’s Cathedral rises above buildings burning all around it.
    The British press used the picture as a sign London couldn’t be defeated.
    Germany used the same image as proof the bombing campaign was a success.
    Propaganda was the first unit we did in media studies at university. I think it should be a compulsory subject!

    Reply
  16. I’m someone who always wanted to know what was going on, so I haven’t given up news completely. Public Broadcasting and BBC are the two that I find most reliable. But I don’t watch it like I used to.
    Of the 24 hour cable news networks, two of then are pure propaganda stations representing opposite ends of the political spectrum. They mean nothing to me. CNN and the network news stations are not as bad, but they can be sooooooo dumb or just lazy! They allow politicians to give “non answers” to questions without even trying to follow up. Makes me crazy and I don’t need that. Another pet peeve is to put on two “analysts” to “debate” an issue. They will spend a minute or two just yelling and talking over each other without either one saying anything new or enlightening. Again – make me crazy.
    Whew – thank you for letting me get that off my chest (smile). And thank you ladies for writing books that allow me to escape this madness!

    Reply
  17. I’m someone who always wanted to know what was going on, so I haven’t given up news completely. Public Broadcasting and BBC are the two that I find most reliable. But I don’t watch it like I used to.
    Of the 24 hour cable news networks, two of then are pure propaganda stations representing opposite ends of the political spectrum. They mean nothing to me. CNN and the network news stations are not as bad, but they can be sooooooo dumb or just lazy! They allow politicians to give “non answers” to questions without even trying to follow up. Makes me crazy and I don’t need that. Another pet peeve is to put on two “analysts” to “debate” an issue. They will spend a minute or two just yelling and talking over each other without either one saying anything new or enlightening. Again – make me crazy.
    Whew – thank you for letting me get that off my chest (smile). And thank you ladies for writing books that allow me to escape this madness!

    Reply
  18. I’m someone who always wanted to know what was going on, so I haven’t given up news completely. Public Broadcasting and BBC are the two that I find most reliable. But I don’t watch it like I used to.
    Of the 24 hour cable news networks, two of then are pure propaganda stations representing opposite ends of the political spectrum. They mean nothing to me. CNN and the network news stations are not as bad, but they can be sooooooo dumb or just lazy! They allow politicians to give “non answers” to questions without even trying to follow up. Makes me crazy and I don’t need that. Another pet peeve is to put on two “analysts” to “debate” an issue. They will spend a minute or two just yelling and talking over each other without either one saying anything new or enlightening. Again – make me crazy.
    Whew – thank you for letting me get that off my chest (smile). And thank you ladies for writing books that allow me to escape this madness!

    Reply
  19. I’m someone who always wanted to know what was going on, so I haven’t given up news completely. Public Broadcasting and BBC are the two that I find most reliable. But I don’t watch it like I used to.
    Of the 24 hour cable news networks, two of then are pure propaganda stations representing opposite ends of the political spectrum. They mean nothing to me. CNN and the network news stations are not as bad, but they can be sooooooo dumb or just lazy! They allow politicians to give “non answers” to questions without even trying to follow up. Makes me crazy and I don’t need that. Another pet peeve is to put on two “analysts” to “debate” an issue. They will spend a minute or two just yelling and talking over each other without either one saying anything new or enlightening. Again – make me crazy.
    Whew – thank you for letting me get that off my chest (smile). And thank you ladies for writing books that allow me to escape this madness!

    Reply
  20. I’m someone who always wanted to know what was going on, so I haven’t given up news completely. Public Broadcasting and BBC are the two that I find most reliable. But I don’t watch it like I used to.
    Of the 24 hour cable news networks, two of then are pure propaganda stations representing opposite ends of the political spectrum. They mean nothing to me. CNN and the network news stations are not as bad, but they can be sooooooo dumb or just lazy! They allow politicians to give “non answers” to questions without even trying to follow up. Makes me crazy and I don’t need that. Another pet peeve is to put on two “analysts” to “debate” an issue. They will spend a minute or two just yelling and talking over each other without either one saying anything new or enlightening. Again – make me crazy.
    Whew – thank you for letting me get that off my chest (smile). And thank you ladies for writing books that allow me to escape this madness!

    Reply
  21. For me it’s a hrad balance—I feel I need to know what’s going on, but yes, the lack of discussion over the real issues or any sort of civil, constructive discourse, is frighteneing. That’s why I find history reassuring. It’s a reminder that all eras go through this, and it’s not a new phenomena.
    And yes, like you, I find it heartening to read positive celebrations of the human spirit and intellect—ones that encourage us to see the best in each other, not the worst.

    Reply
  22. For me it’s a hrad balance—I feel I need to know what’s going on, but yes, the lack of discussion over the real issues or any sort of civil, constructive discourse, is frighteneing. That’s why I find history reassuring. It’s a reminder that all eras go through this, and it’s not a new phenomena.
    And yes, like you, I find it heartening to read positive celebrations of the human spirit and intellect—ones that encourage us to see the best in each other, not the worst.

    Reply
  23. For me it’s a hrad balance—I feel I need to know what’s going on, but yes, the lack of discussion over the real issues or any sort of civil, constructive discourse, is frighteneing. That’s why I find history reassuring. It’s a reminder that all eras go through this, and it’s not a new phenomena.
    And yes, like you, I find it heartening to read positive celebrations of the human spirit and intellect—ones that encourage us to see the best in each other, not the worst.

    Reply
  24. For me it’s a hrad balance—I feel I need to know what’s going on, but yes, the lack of discussion over the real issues or any sort of civil, constructive discourse, is frighteneing. That’s why I find history reassuring. It’s a reminder that all eras go through this, and it’s not a new phenomena.
    And yes, like you, I find it heartening to read positive celebrations of the human spirit and intellect—ones that encourage us to see the best in each other, not the worst.

    Reply
  25. For me it’s a hrad balance—I feel I need to know what’s going on, but yes, the lack of discussion over the real issues or any sort of civil, constructive discourse, is frighteneing. That’s why I find history reassuring. It’s a reminder that all eras go through this, and it’s not a new phenomena.
    And yes, like you, I find it heartening to read positive celebrations of the human spirit and intellect—ones that encourage us to see the best in each other, not the worst.

    Reply
  26. I don’t watch TV news or listen to news radio, but I do get newa on my computer. I know the difference between a site like “Being Liberal” and true news sites. Our two mid-Missouri nwspapers are still reporting straight news at this time. My son, who reports for the Jefferson City paper has given the Columbia paper an OK as of this month. (The paper has just changed hands, so it may need re-evaluation.)
    As in interesting aside, I was taught to assess statements (in this case advertising) in 6th grade, when my teacher said, “Ninety-nine and forty-four hundredths WHAT? Pure LYE?” I have examined print and speech every since.

    Reply
  27. I don’t watch TV news or listen to news radio, but I do get newa on my computer. I know the difference between a site like “Being Liberal” and true news sites. Our two mid-Missouri nwspapers are still reporting straight news at this time. My son, who reports for the Jefferson City paper has given the Columbia paper an OK as of this month. (The paper has just changed hands, so it may need re-evaluation.)
    As in interesting aside, I was taught to assess statements (in this case advertising) in 6th grade, when my teacher said, “Ninety-nine and forty-four hundredths WHAT? Pure LYE?” I have examined print and speech every since.

    Reply
  28. I don’t watch TV news or listen to news radio, but I do get newa on my computer. I know the difference between a site like “Being Liberal” and true news sites. Our two mid-Missouri nwspapers are still reporting straight news at this time. My son, who reports for the Jefferson City paper has given the Columbia paper an OK as of this month. (The paper has just changed hands, so it may need re-evaluation.)
    As in interesting aside, I was taught to assess statements (in this case advertising) in 6th grade, when my teacher said, “Ninety-nine and forty-four hundredths WHAT? Pure LYE?” I have examined print and speech every since.

    Reply
  29. I don’t watch TV news or listen to news radio, but I do get newa on my computer. I know the difference between a site like “Being Liberal” and true news sites. Our two mid-Missouri nwspapers are still reporting straight news at this time. My son, who reports for the Jefferson City paper has given the Columbia paper an OK as of this month. (The paper has just changed hands, so it may need re-evaluation.)
    As in interesting aside, I was taught to assess statements (in this case advertising) in 6th grade, when my teacher said, “Ninety-nine and forty-four hundredths WHAT? Pure LYE?” I have examined print and speech every since.

    Reply
  30. I don’t watch TV news or listen to news radio, but I do get newa on my computer. I know the difference between a site like “Being Liberal” and true news sites. Our two mid-Missouri nwspapers are still reporting straight news at this time. My son, who reports for the Jefferson City paper has given the Columbia paper an OK as of this month. (The paper has just changed hands, so it may need re-evaluation.)
    As in interesting aside, I was taught to assess statements (in this case advertising) in 6th grade, when my teacher said, “Ninety-nine and forty-four hundredths WHAT? Pure LYE?” I have examined print and speech every since.

    Reply
  31. Such a good lesson, Sue. Kudos to your teacher!
    I vividly remember a great lesson I got in high school history class. The teacher passed out a selection of American history books from various publishers and had us turn to the account of the Boston Massacre. Needless to say, they were different in tone, and even in fact. He said it was a reminder to always think twice about accepting a single account as being “true” because everyone perceives truth differently, and sees an event through their own eyes/biases. (Plus in a battle, where things are frightening and confusing, one doesn’t always see things clearly.) It is a lesson that has really stuck with me.

    Reply
  32. Such a good lesson, Sue. Kudos to your teacher!
    I vividly remember a great lesson I got in high school history class. The teacher passed out a selection of American history books from various publishers and had us turn to the account of the Boston Massacre. Needless to say, they were different in tone, and even in fact. He said it was a reminder to always think twice about accepting a single account as being “true” because everyone perceives truth differently, and sees an event through their own eyes/biases. (Plus in a battle, where things are frightening and confusing, one doesn’t always see things clearly.) It is a lesson that has really stuck with me.

    Reply
  33. Such a good lesson, Sue. Kudos to your teacher!
    I vividly remember a great lesson I got in high school history class. The teacher passed out a selection of American history books from various publishers and had us turn to the account of the Boston Massacre. Needless to say, they were different in tone, and even in fact. He said it was a reminder to always think twice about accepting a single account as being “true” because everyone perceives truth differently, and sees an event through their own eyes/biases. (Plus in a battle, where things are frightening and confusing, one doesn’t always see things clearly.) It is a lesson that has really stuck with me.

    Reply
  34. Such a good lesson, Sue. Kudos to your teacher!
    I vividly remember a great lesson I got in high school history class. The teacher passed out a selection of American history books from various publishers and had us turn to the account of the Boston Massacre. Needless to say, they were different in tone, and even in fact. He said it was a reminder to always think twice about accepting a single account as being “true” because everyone perceives truth differently, and sees an event through their own eyes/biases. (Plus in a battle, where things are frightening and confusing, one doesn’t always see things clearly.) It is a lesson that has really stuck with me.

    Reply
  35. Such a good lesson, Sue. Kudos to your teacher!
    I vividly remember a great lesson I got in high school history class. The teacher passed out a selection of American history books from various publishers and had us turn to the account of the Boston Massacre. Needless to say, they were different in tone, and even in fact. He said it was a reminder to always think twice about accepting a single account as being “true” because everyone perceives truth differently, and sees an event through their own eyes/biases. (Plus in a battle, where things are frightening and confusing, one doesn’t always see things clearly.) It is a lesson that has really stuck with me.

    Reply
  36. I too had a wonderful English teacher in Year 6 (when I was 11 turning 12) who taught us to carefully read advertising. This was the year of one of the most pivotal national elections in Australian history as well, so we were required to obtain the platform statements of each party and then compare that to their advertising and what the politicians were actually saying on TV. At the same time, I was reading Jean Plaidy and she was shining a light on the reactions of the Georgian Queens and Princesses to their ‘press’. And on how they manipulated it, often one generation against another. And how having a series of national leaders who often could hardly string a series of coherent sentences together (because they didn’t speak the language well or were unwell) allowed the press increasing and amazing latitude as well as creating extreme concern. The fact that the leaders often did not seem to really understand their own country or the issues it was facing really undermined their credibility. And when the leaders (or members of the royal family) came out with incredibly silly utterings, the ton and the press pounced. I also remember reading the story of Randall Hearst. There was a man who knew the value of free press in America and how to exploit it! I think that the community has always had to regulate the press to make it what it needs to be. There will always be yellow journalism but it is what we choose as a general public to pay for that will really decide whether honest journalism wins out in the end. I’m heartened that the subscriptions to the New York Times are sky rocketing. You don’t have to always agree with them to honour their reputation.

    Reply
  37. I too had a wonderful English teacher in Year 6 (when I was 11 turning 12) who taught us to carefully read advertising. This was the year of one of the most pivotal national elections in Australian history as well, so we were required to obtain the platform statements of each party and then compare that to their advertising and what the politicians were actually saying on TV. At the same time, I was reading Jean Plaidy and she was shining a light on the reactions of the Georgian Queens and Princesses to their ‘press’. And on how they manipulated it, often one generation against another. And how having a series of national leaders who often could hardly string a series of coherent sentences together (because they didn’t speak the language well or were unwell) allowed the press increasing and amazing latitude as well as creating extreme concern. The fact that the leaders often did not seem to really understand their own country or the issues it was facing really undermined their credibility. And when the leaders (or members of the royal family) came out with incredibly silly utterings, the ton and the press pounced. I also remember reading the story of Randall Hearst. There was a man who knew the value of free press in America and how to exploit it! I think that the community has always had to regulate the press to make it what it needs to be. There will always be yellow journalism but it is what we choose as a general public to pay for that will really decide whether honest journalism wins out in the end. I’m heartened that the subscriptions to the New York Times are sky rocketing. You don’t have to always agree with them to honour their reputation.

    Reply
  38. I too had a wonderful English teacher in Year 6 (when I was 11 turning 12) who taught us to carefully read advertising. This was the year of one of the most pivotal national elections in Australian history as well, so we were required to obtain the platform statements of each party and then compare that to their advertising and what the politicians were actually saying on TV. At the same time, I was reading Jean Plaidy and she was shining a light on the reactions of the Georgian Queens and Princesses to their ‘press’. And on how they manipulated it, often one generation against another. And how having a series of national leaders who often could hardly string a series of coherent sentences together (because they didn’t speak the language well or were unwell) allowed the press increasing and amazing latitude as well as creating extreme concern. The fact that the leaders often did not seem to really understand their own country or the issues it was facing really undermined their credibility. And when the leaders (or members of the royal family) came out with incredibly silly utterings, the ton and the press pounced. I also remember reading the story of Randall Hearst. There was a man who knew the value of free press in America and how to exploit it! I think that the community has always had to regulate the press to make it what it needs to be. There will always be yellow journalism but it is what we choose as a general public to pay for that will really decide whether honest journalism wins out in the end. I’m heartened that the subscriptions to the New York Times are sky rocketing. You don’t have to always agree with them to honour their reputation.

    Reply
  39. I too had a wonderful English teacher in Year 6 (when I was 11 turning 12) who taught us to carefully read advertising. This was the year of one of the most pivotal national elections in Australian history as well, so we were required to obtain the platform statements of each party and then compare that to their advertising and what the politicians were actually saying on TV. At the same time, I was reading Jean Plaidy and she was shining a light on the reactions of the Georgian Queens and Princesses to their ‘press’. And on how they manipulated it, often one generation against another. And how having a series of national leaders who often could hardly string a series of coherent sentences together (because they didn’t speak the language well or were unwell) allowed the press increasing and amazing latitude as well as creating extreme concern. The fact that the leaders often did not seem to really understand their own country or the issues it was facing really undermined their credibility. And when the leaders (or members of the royal family) came out with incredibly silly utterings, the ton and the press pounced. I also remember reading the story of Randall Hearst. There was a man who knew the value of free press in America and how to exploit it! I think that the community has always had to regulate the press to make it what it needs to be. There will always be yellow journalism but it is what we choose as a general public to pay for that will really decide whether honest journalism wins out in the end. I’m heartened that the subscriptions to the New York Times are sky rocketing. You don’t have to always agree with them to honour their reputation.

    Reply
  40. I too had a wonderful English teacher in Year 6 (when I was 11 turning 12) who taught us to carefully read advertising. This was the year of one of the most pivotal national elections in Australian history as well, so we were required to obtain the platform statements of each party and then compare that to their advertising and what the politicians were actually saying on TV. At the same time, I was reading Jean Plaidy and she was shining a light on the reactions of the Georgian Queens and Princesses to their ‘press’. And on how they manipulated it, often one generation against another. And how having a series of national leaders who often could hardly string a series of coherent sentences together (because they didn’t speak the language well or were unwell) allowed the press increasing and amazing latitude as well as creating extreme concern. The fact that the leaders often did not seem to really understand their own country or the issues it was facing really undermined their credibility. And when the leaders (or members of the royal family) came out with incredibly silly utterings, the ton and the press pounced. I also remember reading the story of Randall Hearst. There was a man who knew the value of free press in America and how to exploit it! I think that the community has always had to regulate the press to make it what it needs to be. There will always be yellow journalism but it is what we choose as a general public to pay for that will really decide whether honest journalism wins out in the end. I’m heartened that the subscriptions to the New York Times are sky rocketing. You don’t have to always agree with them to honour their reputation.

    Reply
  41. Teachers play such a critical role in teaching us to be careful, critical readers.That why good public education is so fundamental to a democracy.
    You’re right that we, the consumers, do control who we listen to and to whom we will pay for their efforts. I wish more people would think about whether they want to news to be about the facts, or just entertainment. (Sigh.)Having good, professional, objective journalism is another fundamental of democracy. I, too am heartened that the NY Times subscriptions are soaring.

    Reply
  42. Teachers play such a critical role in teaching us to be careful, critical readers.That why good public education is so fundamental to a democracy.
    You’re right that we, the consumers, do control who we listen to and to whom we will pay for their efforts. I wish more people would think about whether they want to news to be about the facts, or just entertainment. (Sigh.)Having good, professional, objective journalism is another fundamental of democracy. I, too am heartened that the NY Times subscriptions are soaring.

    Reply
  43. Teachers play such a critical role in teaching us to be careful, critical readers.That why good public education is so fundamental to a democracy.
    You’re right that we, the consumers, do control who we listen to and to whom we will pay for their efforts. I wish more people would think about whether they want to news to be about the facts, or just entertainment. (Sigh.)Having good, professional, objective journalism is another fundamental of democracy. I, too am heartened that the NY Times subscriptions are soaring.

    Reply
  44. Teachers play such a critical role in teaching us to be careful, critical readers.That why good public education is so fundamental to a democracy.
    You’re right that we, the consumers, do control who we listen to and to whom we will pay for their efforts. I wish more people would think about whether they want to news to be about the facts, or just entertainment. (Sigh.)Having good, professional, objective journalism is another fundamental of democracy. I, too am heartened that the NY Times subscriptions are soaring.

    Reply
  45. Teachers play such a critical role in teaching us to be careful, critical readers.That why good public education is so fundamental to a democracy.
    You’re right that we, the consumers, do control who we listen to and to whom we will pay for their efforts. I wish more people would think about whether they want to news to be about the facts, or just entertainment. (Sigh.)Having good, professional, objective journalism is another fundamental of democracy. I, too am heartened that the NY Times subscriptions are soaring.

    Reply
  46. I think of “fake” news as information that may be true but isn’t really news (e.g., anything about the Kardashian’s). News that isn’t true is simply lies. After I graduated from college I worked in a university laboratory, and the professors I worked for told me to always consider the source and what they had to gain from a story. It’s why I believe scientists about climate change and not the oil or coal industry. The former write articles and data analyses that appear in peer-reviewed journals; if they manipulate the data or tell lies their reputations are ruined. The latter have a great deal of money invested in fossil fuels; their bonuses depend on their profits. The profit motive can be a good thing, but it can also be an incentive to distort the truth.

    Reply
  47. I think of “fake” news as information that may be true but isn’t really news (e.g., anything about the Kardashian’s). News that isn’t true is simply lies. After I graduated from college I worked in a university laboratory, and the professors I worked for told me to always consider the source and what they had to gain from a story. It’s why I believe scientists about climate change and not the oil or coal industry. The former write articles and data analyses that appear in peer-reviewed journals; if they manipulate the data or tell lies their reputations are ruined. The latter have a great deal of money invested in fossil fuels; their bonuses depend on their profits. The profit motive can be a good thing, but it can also be an incentive to distort the truth.

    Reply
  48. I think of “fake” news as information that may be true but isn’t really news (e.g., anything about the Kardashian’s). News that isn’t true is simply lies. After I graduated from college I worked in a university laboratory, and the professors I worked for told me to always consider the source and what they had to gain from a story. It’s why I believe scientists about climate change and not the oil or coal industry. The former write articles and data analyses that appear in peer-reviewed journals; if they manipulate the data or tell lies their reputations are ruined. The latter have a great deal of money invested in fossil fuels; their bonuses depend on their profits. The profit motive can be a good thing, but it can also be an incentive to distort the truth.

    Reply
  49. I think of “fake” news as information that may be true but isn’t really news (e.g., anything about the Kardashian’s). News that isn’t true is simply lies. After I graduated from college I worked in a university laboratory, and the professors I worked for told me to always consider the source and what they had to gain from a story. It’s why I believe scientists about climate change and not the oil or coal industry. The former write articles and data analyses that appear in peer-reviewed journals; if they manipulate the data or tell lies their reputations are ruined. The latter have a great deal of money invested in fossil fuels; their bonuses depend on their profits. The profit motive can be a good thing, but it can also be an incentive to distort the truth.

    Reply
  50. I think of “fake” news as information that may be true but isn’t really news (e.g., anything about the Kardashian’s). News that isn’t true is simply lies. After I graduated from college I worked in a university laboratory, and the professors I worked for told me to always consider the source and what they had to gain from a story. It’s why I believe scientists about climate change and not the oil or coal industry. The former write articles and data analyses that appear in peer-reviewed journals; if they manipulate the data or tell lies their reputations are ruined. The latter have a great deal of money invested in fossil fuels; their bonuses depend on their profits. The profit motive can be a good thing, but it can also be an incentive to distort the truth.

    Reply
  51. Couldn’t agree more with all of what you say. Opinion and conjecture should not be dressed up as facts. Science is a field where the standards for objectivity are high. As you point out, peer review keeps scientists from making gross exaggeration or telling flat-out bouncers. They won’t get away with it.

    Reply
  52. Couldn’t agree more with all of what you say. Opinion and conjecture should not be dressed up as facts. Science is a field where the standards for objectivity are high. As you point out, peer review keeps scientists from making gross exaggeration or telling flat-out bouncers. They won’t get away with it.

    Reply
  53. Couldn’t agree more with all of what you say. Opinion and conjecture should not be dressed up as facts. Science is a field where the standards for objectivity are high. As you point out, peer review keeps scientists from making gross exaggeration or telling flat-out bouncers. They won’t get away with it.

    Reply
  54. Couldn’t agree more with all of what you say. Opinion and conjecture should not be dressed up as facts. Science is a field where the standards for objectivity are high. As you point out, peer review keeps scientists from making gross exaggeration or telling flat-out bouncers. They won’t get away with it.

    Reply
  55. Couldn’t agree more with all of what you say. Opinion and conjecture should not be dressed up as facts. Science is a field where the standards for objectivity are high. As you point out, peer review keeps scientists from making gross exaggeration or telling flat-out bouncers. They won’t get away with it.

    Reply
  56. The only news programs I watch is a local channel, New York 1 and PBS Newshour. I also like Metronews, which is an interview show that is a mix of people from authors to entertainers and those who have opinions on current events. These three programs are objective and clearly emphasize fact from opinion.
    Online I look at CNN.com and Huffingtonpost.com. I need to sift through these two, but there are many blogs in the Huffingtonpost as well as articles.
    It’s disheartening to see the paranoid mentality of US leaders and some news outlets aiding and abetting hate crimes of people reacting to fear.

    Reply
  57. The only news programs I watch is a local channel, New York 1 and PBS Newshour. I also like Metronews, which is an interview show that is a mix of people from authors to entertainers and those who have opinions on current events. These three programs are objective and clearly emphasize fact from opinion.
    Online I look at CNN.com and Huffingtonpost.com. I need to sift through these two, but there are many blogs in the Huffingtonpost as well as articles.
    It’s disheartening to see the paranoid mentality of US leaders and some news outlets aiding and abetting hate crimes of people reacting to fear.

    Reply
  58. The only news programs I watch is a local channel, New York 1 and PBS Newshour. I also like Metronews, which is an interview show that is a mix of people from authors to entertainers and those who have opinions on current events. These three programs are objective and clearly emphasize fact from opinion.
    Online I look at CNN.com and Huffingtonpost.com. I need to sift through these two, but there are many blogs in the Huffingtonpost as well as articles.
    It’s disheartening to see the paranoid mentality of US leaders and some news outlets aiding and abetting hate crimes of people reacting to fear.

    Reply
  59. The only news programs I watch is a local channel, New York 1 and PBS Newshour. I also like Metronews, which is an interview show that is a mix of people from authors to entertainers and those who have opinions on current events. These three programs are objective and clearly emphasize fact from opinion.
    Online I look at CNN.com and Huffingtonpost.com. I need to sift through these two, but there are many blogs in the Huffingtonpost as well as articles.
    It’s disheartening to see the paranoid mentality of US leaders and some news outlets aiding and abetting hate crimes of people reacting to fear.

    Reply
  60. The only news programs I watch is a local channel, New York 1 and PBS Newshour. I also like Metronews, which is an interview show that is a mix of people from authors to entertainers and those who have opinions on current events. These three programs are objective and clearly emphasize fact from opinion.
    Online I look at CNN.com and Huffingtonpost.com. I need to sift through these two, but there are many blogs in the Huffingtonpost as well as articles.
    It’s disheartening to see the paranoid mentality of US leaders and some news outlets aiding and abetting hate crimes of people reacting to fear.

    Reply
  61. Let’s hope our, um, leader doesn’t pick up the phrase “yellow journalism.” He’d adore it, the press would have a field day with “golden showers,” and we’d be, “Oh, crap, here we go again.”
    During the election cycle last year, I discovered the News app on my iPad/iPhone. Enormous time-sucker, but by including news from many sources it gives me at least the illusion of depth and breadth of opinion on seemingly every major news story and many minor ones, along with science, technology, everyday living, and much more. Daily, I am thrilled, amused, and appalled via Apple News.

    Reply
  62. Let’s hope our, um, leader doesn’t pick up the phrase “yellow journalism.” He’d adore it, the press would have a field day with “golden showers,” and we’d be, “Oh, crap, here we go again.”
    During the election cycle last year, I discovered the News app on my iPad/iPhone. Enormous time-sucker, but by including news from many sources it gives me at least the illusion of depth and breadth of opinion on seemingly every major news story and many minor ones, along with science, technology, everyday living, and much more. Daily, I am thrilled, amused, and appalled via Apple News.

    Reply
  63. Let’s hope our, um, leader doesn’t pick up the phrase “yellow journalism.” He’d adore it, the press would have a field day with “golden showers,” and we’d be, “Oh, crap, here we go again.”
    During the election cycle last year, I discovered the News app on my iPad/iPhone. Enormous time-sucker, but by including news from many sources it gives me at least the illusion of depth and breadth of opinion on seemingly every major news story and many minor ones, along with science, technology, everyday living, and much more. Daily, I am thrilled, amused, and appalled via Apple News.

    Reply
  64. Let’s hope our, um, leader doesn’t pick up the phrase “yellow journalism.” He’d adore it, the press would have a field day with “golden showers,” and we’d be, “Oh, crap, here we go again.”
    During the election cycle last year, I discovered the News app on my iPad/iPhone. Enormous time-sucker, but by including news from many sources it gives me at least the illusion of depth and breadth of opinion on seemingly every major news story and many minor ones, along with science, technology, everyday living, and much more. Daily, I am thrilled, amused, and appalled via Apple News.

    Reply
  65. Let’s hope our, um, leader doesn’t pick up the phrase “yellow journalism.” He’d adore it, the press would have a field day with “golden showers,” and we’d be, “Oh, crap, here we go again.”
    During the election cycle last year, I discovered the News app on my iPad/iPhone. Enormous time-sucker, but by including news from many sources it gives me at least the illusion of depth and breadth of opinion on seemingly every major news story and many minor ones, along with science, technology, everyday living, and much more. Daily, I am thrilled, amused, and appalled via Apple News.

    Reply
  66. I’ve been a news junkie my entire life, and my memories from my childhood include my mother hushing us so that she could hear Eric Sevareid at the end of the CBS news every night. I’ve also listened to audio books for years, since my sit-down-and-read time is extremely limited. Lately however, I find myself keeping my earbuds in and going on with my story instead of putting on the current horror of ridiculous babble. I listen to Rachel Maddow at night and try to catch the headlines on BBC at the top of the hour to find out what’s happening in the rest of the world. And I read the wonderful magazine THE WEEK, which does a pretty good job of covering domestic and international stories in as much as can be called unbiased manner.

    Reply
  67. I’ve been a news junkie my entire life, and my memories from my childhood include my mother hushing us so that she could hear Eric Sevareid at the end of the CBS news every night. I’ve also listened to audio books for years, since my sit-down-and-read time is extremely limited. Lately however, I find myself keeping my earbuds in and going on with my story instead of putting on the current horror of ridiculous babble. I listen to Rachel Maddow at night and try to catch the headlines on BBC at the top of the hour to find out what’s happening in the rest of the world. And I read the wonderful magazine THE WEEK, which does a pretty good job of covering domestic and international stories in as much as can be called unbiased manner.

    Reply
  68. I’ve been a news junkie my entire life, and my memories from my childhood include my mother hushing us so that she could hear Eric Sevareid at the end of the CBS news every night. I’ve also listened to audio books for years, since my sit-down-and-read time is extremely limited. Lately however, I find myself keeping my earbuds in and going on with my story instead of putting on the current horror of ridiculous babble. I listen to Rachel Maddow at night and try to catch the headlines on BBC at the top of the hour to find out what’s happening in the rest of the world. And I read the wonderful magazine THE WEEK, which does a pretty good job of covering domestic and international stories in as much as can be called unbiased manner.

    Reply
  69. I’ve been a news junkie my entire life, and my memories from my childhood include my mother hushing us so that she could hear Eric Sevareid at the end of the CBS news every night. I’ve also listened to audio books for years, since my sit-down-and-read time is extremely limited. Lately however, I find myself keeping my earbuds in and going on with my story instead of putting on the current horror of ridiculous babble. I listen to Rachel Maddow at night and try to catch the headlines on BBC at the top of the hour to find out what’s happening in the rest of the world. And I read the wonderful magazine THE WEEK, which does a pretty good job of covering domestic and international stories in as much as can be called unbiased manner.

    Reply
  70. I’ve been a news junkie my entire life, and my memories from my childhood include my mother hushing us so that she could hear Eric Sevareid at the end of the CBS news every night. I’ve also listened to audio books for years, since my sit-down-and-read time is extremely limited. Lately however, I find myself keeping my earbuds in and going on with my story instead of putting on the current horror of ridiculous babble. I listen to Rachel Maddow at night and try to catch the headlines on BBC at the top of the hour to find out what’s happening in the rest of the world. And I read the wonderful magazine THE WEEK, which does a pretty good job of covering domestic and international stories in as much as can be called unbiased manner.

    Reply
  71. A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth. Joseph Goebbels
    If you tell the same lie enough times, people will believe it; and the bigger the lie, the better. Joseph Goebbels
    Now this is me:
    When I was a kid, I wanted to know what was going on. So, I became a fan of Huntley and Brinkley and Walter Cronkite. (You can see I was a strange kid.) I wanted to run away to a desert island with Walter Cronkite. Still do.
    Propaganda has been around for a long time, and some of it has proven very successful,some not so much.
    I no longer watch news on TV. I read newspapers from around the world and try to balance things.
    That is about the best I can do.

    Reply
  72. A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth. Joseph Goebbels
    If you tell the same lie enough times, people will believe it; and the bigger the lie, the better. Joseph Goebbels
    Now this is me:
    When I was a kid, I wanted to know what was going on. So, I became a fan of Huntley and Brinkley and Walter Cronkite. (You can see I was a strange kid.) I wanted to run away to a desert island with Walter Cronkite. Still do.
    Propaganda has been around for a long time, and some of it has proven very successful,some not so much.
    I no longer watch news on TV. I read newspapers from around the world and try to balance things.
    That is about the best I can do.

    Reply
  73. A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth. Joseph Goebbels
    If you tell the same lie enough times, people will believe it; and the bigger the lie, the better. Joseph Goebbels
    Now this is me:
    When I was a kid, I wanted to know what was going on. So, I became a fan of Huntley and Brinkley and Walter Cronkite. (You can see I was a strange kid.) I wanted to run away to a desert island with Walter Cronkite. Still do.
    Propaganda has been around for a long time, and some of it has proven very successful,some not so much.
    I no longer watch news on TV. I read newspapers from around the world and try to balance things.
    That is about the best I can do.

    Reply
  74. A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth. Joseph Goebbels
    If you tell the same lie enough times, people will believe it; and the bigger the lie, the better. Joseph Goebbels
    Now this is me:
    When I was a kid, I wanted to know what was going on. So, I became a fan of Huntley and Brinkley and Walter Cronkite. (You can see I was a strange kid.) I wanted to run away to a desert island with Walter Cronkite. Still do.
    Propaganda has been around for a long time, and some of it has proven very successful,some not so much.
    I no longer watch news on TV. I read newspapers from around the world and try to balance things.
    That is about the best I can do.

    Reply
  75. A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth. Joseph Goebbels
    If you tell the same lie enough times, people will believe it; and the bigger the lie, the better. Joseph Goebbels
    Now this is me:
    When I was a kid, I wanted to know what was going on. So, I became a fan of Huntley and Brinkley and Walter Cronkite. (You can see I was a strange kid.) I wanted to run away to a desert island with Walter Cronkite. Still do.
    Propaganda has been around for a long time, and some of it has proven very successful,some not so much.
    I no longer watch news on TV. I read newspapers from around the world and try to balance things.
    That is about the best I can do.

    Reply
  76. Arrgh, yes, the press would have a field day with “yellow”! I’ve been trying to focus more on the arts, science, tech, etc. to keep up . . . and I wish we might have an Edward Morrow/Walter Cronkite-type of newscaster who could do a dispassionate, objective daily summary of the world news.

    Reply
  77. Arrgh, yes, the press would have a field day with “yellow”! I’ve been trying to focus more on the arts, science, tech, etc. to keep up . . . and I wish we might have an Edward Morrow/Walter Cronkite-type of newscaster who could do a dispassionate, objective daily summary of the world news.

    Reply
  78. Arrgh, yes, the press would have a field day with “yellow”! I’ve been trying to focus more on the arts, science, tech, etc. to keep up . . . and I wish we might have an Edward Morrow/Walter Cronkite-type of newscaster who could do a dispassionate, objective daily summary of the world news.

    Reply
  79. Arrgh, yes, the press would have a field day with “yellow”! I’ve been trying to focus more on the arts, science, tech, etc. to keep up . . . and I wish we might have an Edward Morrow/Walter Cronkite-type of newscaster who could do a dispassionate, objective daily summary of the world news.

    Reply
  80. Arrgh, yes, the press would have a field day with “yellow”! I’ve been trying to focus more on the arts, science, tech, etc. to keep up . . . and I wish we might have an Edward Morrow/Walter Cronkite-type of newscaster who could do a dispassionate, objective daily summary of the world news.

    Reply
  81. I listen to the news on my local radio station everyday. I catch the 6 o clock evening news now and again on the Irish tv channel. That’s enough for me. Most of it is so depressing or frustrating.
    Here in Waterford we have a crowd on the internet called Waterford Whispers News. They take a headline from something that’s happening at the moment turn it into a skit and write about it as if it’s actually news. It can be hilarious!! My son follows them and fills me in on the really good ones. If you ever get fed up with the news and want a really good laugh then take a look.
    I can guess from reading your post Andrea where you got your man of the cloth for your latest book!!

    Reply
  82. I listen to the news on my local radio station everyday. I catch the 6 o clock evening news now and again on the Irish tv channel. That’s enough for me. Most of it is so depressing or frustrating.
    Here in Waterford we have a crowd on the internet called Waterford Whispers News. They take a headline from something that’s happening at the moment turn it into a skit and write about it as if it’s actually news. It can be hilarious!! My son follows them and fills me in on the really good ones. If you ever get fed up with the news and want a really good laugh then take a look.
    I can guess from reading your post Andrea where you got your man of the cloth for your latest book!!

    Reply
  83. I listen to the news on my local radio station everyday. I catch the 6 o clock evening news now and again on the Irish tv channel. That’s enough for me. Most of it is so depressing or frustrating.
    Here in Waterford we have a crowd on the internet called Waterford Whispers News. They take a headline from something that’s happening at the moment turn it into a skit and write about it as if it’s actually news. It can be hilarious!! My son follows them and fills me in on the really good ones. If you ever get fed up with the news and want a really good laugh then take a look.
    I can guess from reading your post Andrea where you got your man of the cloth for your latest book!!

    Reply
  84. I listen to the news on my local radio station everyday. I catch the 6 o clock evening news now and again on the Irish tv channel. That’s enough for me. Most of it is so depressing or frustrating.
    Here in Waterford we have a crowd on the internet called Waterford Whispers News. They take a headline from something that’s happening at the moment turn it into a skit and write about it as if it’s actually news. It can be hilarious!! My son follows them and fills me in on the really good ones. If you ever get fed up with the news and want a really good laugh then take a look.
    I can guess from reading your post Andrea where you got your man of the cloth for your latest book!!

    Reply
  85. I listen to the news on my local radio station everyday. I catch the 6 o clock evening news now and again on the Irish tv channel. That’s enough for me. Most of it is so depressing or frustrating.
    Here in Waterford we have a crowd on the internet called Waterford Whispers News. They take a headline from something that’s happening at the moment turn it into a skit and write about it as if it’s actually news. It can be hilarious!! My son follows them and fills me in on the really good ones. If you ever get fed up with the news and want a really good laugh then take a look.
    I can guess from reading your post Andrea where you got your man of the cloth for your latest book!!

    Reply
  86. Teresa, the news is so crazy these days that doing a funny skit on it is the only way to stay sane. Some of the satire is incredibly funny . . . though also horrifying as reality is often hard to discern from farce. Sigh.
    Am chuckling over your “man of the cloth” comment. Coincidence, I swear!

    Reply
  87. Teresa, the news is so crazy these days that doing a funny skit on it is the only way to stay sane. Some of the satire is incredibly funny . . . though also horrifying as reality is often hard to discern from farce. Sigh.
    Am chuckling over your “man of the cloth” comment. Coincidence, I swear!

    Reply
  88. Teresa, the news is so crazy these days that doing a funny skit on it is the only way to stay sane. Some of the satire is incredibly funny . . . though also horrifying as reality is often hard to discern from farce. Sigh.
    Am chuckling over your “man of the cloth” comment. Coincidence, I swear!

    Reply
  89. Teresa, the news is so crazy these days that doing a funny skit on it is the only way to stay sane. Some of the satire is incredibly funny . . . though also horrifying as reality is often hard to discern from farce. Sigh.
    Am chuckling over your “man of the cloth” comment. Coincidence, I swear!

    Reply
  90. Teresa, the news is so crazy these days that doing a funny skit on it is the only way to stay sane. Some of the satire is incredibly funny . . . though also horrifying as reality is often hard to discern from farce. Sigh.
    Am chuckling over your “man of the cloth” comment. Coincidence, I swear!

    Reply
  91. I find people passing around news via Facebook from very questionable websites, on both sides of the political spectrum, very disheartening. I subscribe to the NY Times online, and I read a few of the other major papers-at least until my free articles per month run out! But my favorite source for in depth information is The New Yorker magazine. The articles are not the headlines du jour, but the result of months of research. I think they are the only outlet that still does absolutely impeccable editing and fact checking. As a result, I know a lot about many, many obscure topics.

    Reply
  92. I find people passing around news via Facebook from very questionable websites, on both sides of the political spectrum, very disheartening. I subscribe to the NY Times online, and I read a few of the other major papers-at least until my free articles per month run out! But my favorite source for in depth information is The New Yorker magazine. The articles are not the headlines du jour, but the result of months of research. I think they are the only outlet that still does absolutely impeccable editing and fact checking. As a result, I know a lot about many, many obscure topics.

    Reply
  93. I find people passing around news via Facebook from very questionable websites, on both sides of the political spectrum, very disheartening. I subscribe to the NY Times online, and I read a few of the other major papers-at least until my free articles per month run out! But my favorite source for in depth information is The New Yorker magazine. The articles are not the headlines du jour, but the result of months of research. I think they are the only outlet that still does absolutely impeccable editing and fact checking. As a result, I know a lot about many, many obscure topics.

    Reply
  94. I find people passing around news via Facebook from very questionable websites, on both sides of the political spectrum, very disheartening. I subscribe to the NY Times online, and I read a few of the other major papers-at least until my free articles per month run out! But my favorite source for in depth information is The New Yorker magazine. The articles are not the headlines du jour, but the result of months of research. I think they are the only outlet that still does absolutely impeccable editing and fact checking. As a result, I know a lot about many, many obscure topics.

    Reply
  95. I find people passing around news via Facebook from very questionable websites, on both sides of the political spectrum, very disheartening. I subscribe to the NY Times online, and I read a few of the other major papers-at least until my free articles per month run out! But my favorite source for in depth information is The New Yorker magazine. The articles are not the headlines du jour, but the result of months of research. I think they are the only outlet that still does absolutely impeccable editing and fact checking. As a result, I know a lot about many, many obscure topics.

    Reply

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