Why we are not able to read the news

The media and the mission of conveying information

Immediately I say, that the main point of my article is not in the fact that all media are purchased. If you are reading this, then, not exactly all.

The media often talk about themselves, if they fulfill the mission of providing information to the public. In general, it is true, but the fact is that the information is so much that bring it all to the audience it is impossible, even if to dedicate this 24 hours a day. Therefore, the media choose certain events, in the interests of the owners of publications, editorial politics, public policy and perceptions that may be interesting to the reader, listener or viewer.

To create a complete picture of the world and country events none of the media is not capable, they are all just trying to create a semblance to be credible readers.

Journalism as a whole is divided into two areas. The first is focused on inexperienced reader: news, accompanied by expert opinion. The second direction - for readers who want to sort things out on their own and, therefore, prefer to learn only the facts, independently analyzing the events. But in fact, those and others are often still fall

in the trap.

Distortion, accents, silence, or the giving of the facts in a certain sequence - all are complex, but at the same time very effective public opinion management techniques. Learn these techniques - means being able to read the news.

The basic techniques of formation of the reader of a certain opinion and mood

In addition to screaming headlines, primitive custom-made articles and distortion of words in quotes, there are other methods much more thin, less visible (and therefore better) which overcome the "mental immunity" reader and fall into consciousness. These methods are able to change ideas about what is happening, and later - and the world in general. Here are some of them.

1. Careful selection of the facts

The notice of a particular event are mentioned only those facts that meet the editorial policy of the publication, the interests of its owners or sponsors, as well as the interests of the direct customer of articles.

It should be understood that every day in the world of politics, economy and culture held many conferences, meetings, round tables and so on. Typically, each of these events lasted for several hours. But when these events are covered in the media, each in the best case is given one small article, which is not able to fit the diversity of opinions, reflect the subject and argument debate.

From acquaintances experts who regularly give interviews, I have often heard that the air will only include those estimates and judgments, which coincide with the editorial board. If the interview does not relate to the editorial policy, you will not tell nobody about this, the interview will take and write down, thank, but in the air to produce or will not be published.

In this edition does not lie in the generally accepted sense of the word, and not only publishes all words on a particular occasion. The reader gets the impression that he learns the facts, but he rarely realizes that the facts presented to him is not all.

2. Selection of participants in the events unseemly

Any, even the good cause, you can teach something, what is indecent to talk and what is indecent to be involved. For example, the meeting is being held in support of a particular idea. If the media are interested in belittling the importance of this event, they will try to find and show the people among the protesters disreputable (The way in which they may appear there, a separate issue). Event to be handed to the reader in the following scenario: the protesters may be right, but look who their associates, and draw conclusions. After such an unlikely someone will be serious about what has happened.

3. Scale event management

For example, serious military conflicts can be presented as local skirmishes. If the statement of opposition must be shown to be insignificant, then most likely, you will be a small group of people, separated from the crowd. If the opposition mass media will cover the same event, they, on the contrary, choose to shoot the middle of the crowd, to give the impression of a crowded event and give it more importance.

4. Belated coverage

It is widely believed that in order to play the stock market, you need to read business publications. However, information on which it can be really big money, will be published only after it can help earn the major players in the market. Do not doubt that professionals will learn all the important news is not from the newspapers that we read, and from the lips of those who are well received in the offices of key decisions.

5. Hog-wash and the formation of trends

News portals and newspapers often use the information in order to push us to certain actions. Almost every day we hear that we recommend to invest in some stocks, currencies or commodities. But these traders are not inclined to share information really profitable. Therefore, a counselor, or does not consider such a promising investment, or he makes a mistake, and the publication intends to by publishing his opinions cause a certain behavior of market participants and ultimately to capitalize on this error.

An eloquent example of the newspaper ducks is when the entrepreneur Oleg Tinkoff intended to hold its IPO in respect of the bank - the international market shares - that would allow him to take a lot of financial resources, and get even more resources for later development. But on the eve of this event in the Russian media published information about the alleged impending to the adoption of the federal law prohibiting remote (via mail or courier) the conclusion of contracts for credit and debit cards. It is not difficult to guess that after this message campaign "Tinkoff Bank", which so quickly scored momentum just because of the principle of remote registration of contracts with customers, have dropped significantly in price. Then it turned out that such a law would not be passed, but the young bank did not manage to attract international loans in the volumes to which it was entitled to expect.

6. All the most important thing you do not tell

Both on the level of government departments, and the level of public organizations, held numerous meetings and round tables, which do not invite the media. Or consist of a meeting open to the media and closed parts. In the open part of said all that needs to be published, and in the closed discussed the most important issues in the narrow circle of specialists, who are not interested in the dissemination of information. Therefore we should not delude ourselves, if you read some newspapers, have the relevant information.

The most important thing will be said non-public, and the average person will never know about it.

If we know, then the information is likely to lose its relevance.

7. Speed ​​is more important than reliability

The nature of the daily media is such that few journalists have the opportunity to think seriously about what will be prepared a report or article.

The most important thing for their employers - it's speed. Let's say, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times or Times published hot news. Be sure that it immediately be translated into many languages ​​and be published in hundreds of publications around the world, including in Russia, without any verification information.

However, there are cases when a few days later news source waives his words, the assumption is recognized in error when preparing the material, but the fact of the world no longer sees as news replicated, stuck in people's minds, lives almost independent life. Therefore, so-called hot posts rarely worthy of attention.

8. Distractions

The media is always a so-called pocket information events that fill the information space or outright nonsense or the old unresolved issues that if you want to divert public attention away from any major events. As an example - the numerous reports of the Liberal Democratic Party proposals to ban the use of garlic or the mausoleum of the transport theme AND. Lenin from Red Square.

The discussion in the media of this kind, and then the sudden disappearance of their show is not about stupidity and the pettiness of the media, and the presence of a much more important reason to information, hiding behind these themes.

9. Controversial editorial policy

Any publication, if it wants to maintain, or even multiply the audience must from time to time to give up their editorial policy, print, other points of view on what is happening to create a sense of objectivity lighting events. Such materials are likely to be presented to appropriately: with ridicule, indignation, and so on. This often determines the attitude of the viewer or the reader, and to the very statement.

What to do?

It should be understood that for each important issue, there are several opposing interests. In such circumstances, it is likely that the supporters of the opposing points of view will be engaged in mutual denunciation, and the reader will have the opportunity to be honest arbiter in this match. For example, this phenomenon can be seen in the information war Western and Russian media on sanctions policy.

When reading the news should be guided by the following rules.

Firstly, always ask yourself the question:

• Who are the owners of the media or channels, of which do you get the news?
• What economic interests and political views of these owners?
• Who benefits from this or that article or story?
• What political views are held by editors? Not necessarily the views of the editorial office is fully coincide with those of the owner.
• Does the text of the above methods and for what purpose they are used?

Secondly, to follow the thread of events, observe how varied the giving of information about the same event in a week, month or even year.

It is equally important to compare the information with what you already know or can learn from books, reference books and dictionaries.
Also, try to verify the information. If your environment is no eyewitnesses events you are interested, read messages from a variety of sources, including foreign.

If this way to approach the issue of perception of information from the media, you will find a lot of discoveries and independent conclusions about the events happening around them.

If you read the proposed method for some reason are not satisfied, I advise you to proceed as follows.

1. Reading online resources and dailies prefer reading weeklies and monthlies, which prevails analytical and verified information.
2. Daily views and listen to radio reports to prefer the final release at the end of the week, which is already less than the hype, and the information is presented in a more concentrated form.
3. Read news agencies. Usually they extract most of the information set out its short for the most newspapers and magazines. Moreover, much of the published news agencies does not fall in the popular media.
4. If the news is in the words of an important person, then do not pay attention to paraphrase what he said, just read his speech completely.

And do not worry because the probability to miss an event. Firstly, the range of news that have a direct impact on your life, not so great. Secondly, the experience of colleagues and my own shows that all the important news you somehow learn from other people who still do not stop to read the media every day.

Free time can be spent on anything, including reading books, time-tested and recommended by your friends. Do not forget about the rule of Mark Twain:

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can not read.