For the last six months, I have taken a hiatus from writing opinion columns in the Prince George Citizen. I have been asked several times if that had something to do with Cameron and Terresa purchasing the paper.
Not at all.
I simply ran out of time this past winter to properly research and write. So, we are starting again and hopefully these columns will generate a modicum of discussion.
I should also point out that the opinions offered in these columns are my own. They are my thoughts on our world. They do not reflect the opinion of my employer or any of the organizations I am associated with. They do not represent the opinion of the Prince George Citizen. They are just “As I See It."
We live in interesting times.
That is not to say that other times in human history haven’t been interesting. But we live in an age where worldwide communication is possible in the blink of an eye.
Consider the world of 200 years ago. Communication between countries was restricted to the speed of horses and carriages or sailing ships. War could be fought in one part of the world, and it might be a year before other parts even heard about the event.
Even with the arrival of radio and television, worldwide events took time to propagate. A fire in Peru might not make the news and the people of Prince George might never even know that it had happened. Similarly, a pulp mill opening in Prince George might be locally interesting but certainly not something people living in Zimbabwe would hear about.
But with the rise of the internet and invention of the smart phone, everything, everywhere can now be broadcast to everyone.
This has two major effects – the loss of gatekeepers on information and the rise of no one verifying information.
The role of the news media for the last century has been to provide the facts. This is the heart of journalism. And not to be confused with editorials or opinion columns or letters to the editor, which are meant to provide analysis from a reasoned perspective, although that isn’t always the case.
Journalists work very hard to ensure that the facts are fairly and accurately presented. It is a hard task to do and sometimes they get it wrong. But that is life and without malicious intent.
However, without journalistic standards – and this is what the internet now provides through social media – facts often go out the window and opinion is presented as information.
The loss of gatekeepers means that anything can be posted to the internet, so we get graphic images of war, violence, brutality, or just someone’s adorable kittens. All purporting to be reliable and trustworthy information. Sometimes this provides a glimpse of the world in a way that would never have been seen through major media outlets.
But it comes at a cost because we don’t always know if what we are seeing is true. Someone hawking beets as the latest and best weight loss food is presented with the same sincerity as information from Health Canada about weight loss drugs.
So, if you follow these columns and read what I am writing, please remember that these are based on the best facts that I can find. As true as I can make them. But if you disagree, you can always comfort yourself by remembering they are just my opinion.
Todd Whitcombe is a chemistry professor at UNBC.
