Don't Believe It!

How Lies Becomes News

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science
Cover of the book Don't Believe It! by Alexandra Kitty, Red Wheel Weiser
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Alexandra Kitty ISBN: 9781609258757
Publisher: Red Wheel Weiser Publication: March 1, 2005
Imprint: Disinformation Books Language: English
Author: Alexandra Kitty
ISBN: 9781609258757
Publisher: Red Wheel Weiser
Publication: March 1, 2005
Imprint: Disinformation Books
Language: English

Do you think shamed journalists Jayson Blair and Stephen Glass were rare bad apples? Far from it, they were just the ones stupid enough to get caught. Alexandra Kitty demonstrates with example upon example how manufactured news is endemic in our media and shows the reader how to spot suspicious stories.

In the last few years, the journalism industry has cut costs by eliminating important safeguards: companies have reduced the number of fact-checkers, editors, and journalists. What this means is that editors and reporters cannot spend time verifying information. Moreover, journalists are not required to have professional experience or training to cover their beats. Fierce competition to get a scoop may lead to journalists making careless errors or not double-checking information.

To maintain audiences and readership, journalists, editors and producers will choose sensational stories that “shock.” Combined with time and budget constraints, journalists may unwittingly or deliberately disseminate false or misleading information to the public. It is important to “get” a story, interview a subject or nab a scoop first—the accuracy of these elements is secondary. Competition from other media outlets also means the goal of a journalist is to get the scoop first—how it makes it on the air (flawed, inaccurate, questionably obtained) is unimportant.

Don’t Believe It! teaches news consumers how to verify information. It shows readers how to evaluate sources, eyewitnesses and data. This is a comprehensive bible to information verification from a logical standpoint, showing how to be skeptical without being jaded, step by step, with case studies and a classification manual.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Do you think shamed journalists Jayson Blair and Stephen Glass were rare bad apples? Far from it, they were just the ones stupid enough to get caught. Alexandra Kitty demonstrates with example upon example how manufactured news is endemic in our media and shows the reader how to spot suspicious stories.

In the last few years, the journalism industry has cut costs by eliminating important safeguards: companies have reduced the number of fact-checkers, editors, and journalists. What this means is that editors and reporters cannot spend time verifying information. Moreover, journalists are not required to have professional experience or training to cover their beats. Fierce competition to get a scoop may lead to journalists making careless errors or not double-checking information.

To maintain audiences and readership, journalists, editors and producers will choose sensational stories that “shock.” Combined with time and budget constraints, journalists may unwittingly or deliberately disseminate false or misleading information to the public. It is important to “get” a story, interview a subject or nab a scoop first—the accuracy of these elements is secondary. Competition from other media outlets also means the goal of a journalist is to get the scoop first—how it makes it on the air (flawed, inaccurate, questionably obtained) is unimportant.

Don’t Believe It! teaches news consumers how to verify information. It shows readers how to evaluate sources, eyewitnesses and data. This is a comprehensive bible to information verification from a logical standpoint, showing how to be skeptical without being jaded, step by step, with case studies and a classification manual.

More books from Red Wheel Weiser

Cover of the book Nirvana in a Nutshell: 157 Zen Meditations by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book Living In a Quantum Reality by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book Quantum Affirmations: The New Energy Science of Conscious Manifestation by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book The Art of Breathing by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book The Magical Art of Crafting Charm Bags by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book The Terror Conspiracy: Deception, 9;11 and the Loss of Liberty by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book When Fear Falls Away: The Story Of A Sudden Awakening by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book Nothing But the Truth by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book The Collected Wisdom of Fathers by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book Brand Seduction by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book Unflappable by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book The Exodus Reality by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book The Story of You (And How to Create a New One) by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book The Energetic Keys to Indigo Kids by Alexandra Kitty
Cover of the book Goodbye, Hurt & Pain by Alexandra Kitty
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy