So, what is "fake news"?

[quade 4]

I've noticed a trend lately of people who don't like what is being reported simply calling it "fake news."

Let's make a distinction here and be honest about the term.

Here's a guide.

http://www.wnyc.org/story/breaking-news-consumer-handbook-fake-news-edition

The TL;DR version in graphical form can be found attached.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[DJL 235]

Here's another good link:

http://www.complex.com/life/2016/11/list-fake-misleading-satirical-news-sites

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[DJL 235]

Here's a study on people's susceptibility to fake news and why conservatives believe negative news and liberals believe news with a positive outcome: http://www.danielmtfessler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Fessler-et-al-in-press-Political-Orientation-Credulity.pdf

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[billvon 3,112]

Another good take on this from Science News. As the author observes, sometimes it's not fear of the facts (around issues like climate change, vaccine effectiveness, GMO's etc) that make people deny science - it's the fear of the solutions to those problems.

"We live in a situation now where fear of solutions is greater than fear of impacts."

[DJL 235]

billvon

Another good take on this from Science News. As the author observes, sometimes it's not fear of the facts (around issues like climate change, vaccine effectiveness, GMO's etc) that make people deny science - it's the fear of the solutions to those problems.

"We live in a situation now where fear of solutions is greater than fear of impacts."

In the meantime there are 4 times as many jobs available in the solar industry as in coal but yeah let's prop up the failing coal sector by removing health and safety restrictions.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[billvon 3,112]

Quote

In the meantime there are 4 times as many jobs available in the solar industry as in coal but yeah let's prop up the failing coal sector by removing health and safety restrictions.

Well, but again, fear of solutions rather than fear of impacts - and very often that fear is stoked by opponents of change.

==================================
POLITICS 04/10/2018 03:54 pm ET

Coal Baron: Subsidize Coal ‘To Make Sure Grandma Doesn’t Die On The Operating Table’

Bob Murray, who has heavily influenced the Trump administration’s energy stances, said climate change is only an issue of “political correctness.”

By Alexander C. Kaufman

Bob Murray, the chief executive of coal giant Murray Energy Corporation, issued a grave warning to the nation’s leading renewable energy conference on Tuesday.

Subsidize coal-fired power plants, he said, or grandma gets it.

“You have a responsibility in this room to make sure grandma doesn’t die on the operating table,” Murray, 78, told an audience of energy analysts, investors and executives packed into the ballroom of the Grand Hyatt New York in midtown Manhattan.

In an impassioned 15-minute speech at the annual Bloomberg New Energy Finance summit, Murray repeatedly dismissed the threat of climate change and instead cautioned that the electrical grid risked collapse without reliable energy from coal-fired plants. He cited dramatic winter weather such as the “polar vortex” of 2014 or last January’s “bomb cyclone,” both of which brought Arctic temperatures to parts of the United States, as examples of times when alternatives like wind, solar and natural gas failed to compete with coal.
===================================

[DJL 235]

Wow. I can't believe anyone in the room involved in the power industry would fall for that shit. As if coal is the only way to make 60 hz when it's cloudy.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[billvon 3,112]

>Wow. I can't believe anyone in the room involved in the power industry would fall for that shit.

Well, he didn't say that for their benefit. He said it for social media "news."

Remember "death panels?" That wasn't intended for doctors; they know how the system works. It was for the RushMC's of the world - a snappy sound bite that would propagate on social media and spread fear.

[ryoder 1,590]

billvon

In an impassioned 15-minute speech at the annual Bloomberg New Energy Finance summit, Murray repeatedly dismissed the threat of climate change and instead cautioned that the electrical grid risked collapse without reliable energy from coal-fired plants.

Oh, for chrissake!

Prior to college I spent a number of years as the group leader of a hospital maintenance crew.
The hospital was required to have a redundant pair of emergency generators to power the critical portions of the building, (eg ER, ICU, surgery).

And these were required to be tested monthly to ensure they picked up the load within 10 seconds of a power failure. This was done monthly by my third shift guy after getting approval from the nursing supervisor, who would ensure there was no emergency surgery in progress. Once given the approval, he would throw a switch in the basement, and count the seconds until the power came up. (The switch disconnected the hospital from the public power grid).

And the generators were powered by diesel, not coal!

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[DanG 1]

Why did your hospital hate grandmothers?

- Dan G

[Phil1111 1,176]

ryoder

***
In an impassioned 15-minute speech at the annual Bloomberg New Energy Finance summit, Murray repeatedly dismissed the threat of climate change and instead cautioned that the electrical grid risked collapse without reliable energy from coal-fired plants.

Oh, for chrissake!

Prior to college I spent a number of years as the group leader of a hospital maintenance crew.
The hospital was required to have a redundant pair of emergency generators to power the critical portions of the building, (eg ER, ICU, surgery).

And these were required to be tested monthly to ensure they picked up the load within 10 seconds of a power failure. This was done monthly by my third shift guy after getting approval from the nursing supervisor, who would ensure there was no emergency surgery in progress. Once given the approval, he would throw a switch in the basement, and count the seconds until the power came up. (The switch disconnected the hospital from the public power grid).

And the generators were powered by diesel, not coal!

Yeah, you know that, now I know that and the readers of your post will know that.

But for the public. The only thing that matters is the thought of grandma on the OR table and no power. Or grandma freezing in the dark because its cloudy...or!

These power company presidents are not stupid. They went to school not to jobs underground. They know how to prop up their stocks, when their options can be exercised and their strike price.

[DJL 235]

Oh, just remembered that's the guy who tried to sue John Oliver

http://splitsider.com/2018/02/john-oliver-reminds-coal-ceo-bob-murray-to-eat-shit-after-judge-dismisses-his-defamation-suit-against-last-week-tonight/

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[DJL 235]

Quote

But for the public. The only thing that matters is the thought of grandma on the OR table and no power. Or grandma freezing in the dark because its cloudy...or!

This is the same voting population who haven't made a peep about Trump defunding the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program who's main beneficiaries are senior citizens on fixed incomes.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[billvon 3,112]

Quote

These power company presidents are not stupid. They went to school not to jobs underground. They know how to prop up their stocks, when their options can be exercised and their strike price.

Yep.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him pump and dump the stock, then quit and take a job with a renewables company. I can just hear him in three years - "Over the years my views have evolved as I've thought about all the money I can make in the renewables industry. Besides, coal particulate pollution is dangerous to people who have compromised lungs. Do you really want to put Grandma in the hospital?"

[RonD1120 62]

DJL

Quote

But for the public. The only thing that matters is the thought of grandma on the OR table and no power. Or grandma freezing in the dark because its cloudy...or!

This is the same voting population who haven't made a peep about Trump defunding the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program who's main beneficiaries are senior citizens on fixed incomes.

I am one of those and I never heard of it. But, I don't play the system much, just VA once a year.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[Bob_Church 7]

People actually bought into the concept of free news. Why subscribe to a newspaper, print or online, when this other person has it on their site for free with just a few ads? People never realized or cared that the free news was just copied from the people who had paid to have it gathered. And they only needed a few ads, since if you don't have to pay to produce your product it's pretty easy to turn a profit. But it's taking its toll, and the news industry is hurting. Subscribing to news services that have bureaus all over the world and paying your own people to gather news is expensive and they're cutting back and even going under. So what does Mister Free News do to fill in the spaces between the ads? No problem, just accept stuff from people with an agenda. Democrats provide stories about Republicans, Republicans about Democrats. the union of chicken inspectors send stories about the danger of poorly inspected chickens due to poorly paid inspectors and chicken producers send stories about how chicken has never been so safe. A company invents a new cream for zits and suddenly we see stories about the heartbreak of acne and what can anyone do to help?
There will be plenty of free news. Is it real news? The guy flogging it to sell ad space doesn't care and we, the consumers, have no choice in it by this time. I think we're deeply screwed on this one.

[wmw999 2,587]

Beautifully said.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[DJL 235]

RonD1120

***

Quote

But for the public. The only thing that matters is the thought of grandma on the OR table and no power. Or grandma freezing in the dark because its cloudy...or!

This is the same voting population who haven't made a peep about Trump defunding the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program who's main beneficiaries are senior citizens on fixed incomes.

I am one of those and I never heard of it. But, I don't play the system much, just VA once a year.

Here are two sources for information. It's more prominent in the North where heating can be a life or death issue for senior citizens. One of the more underused programs is funding to update houses to be more energy efficient.

https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/longtermcare/resources/liheap_financial_aid.html

http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/analysis/2018/02/21/federal-funding-for-low-income-energy-assistance-highest-in-new-england-upper-midwest

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[jcd11235 0]

Bob_Church

People actually bought into the concept of free news.

It's not free news that is the problem. It's for profit news. Once news providers are motivated by profit, whether that profit is derived from subscriptions or ads, their interests shift to audience size, and they are compelled to tailor stories to the widespread confirmation biases of their audience.

There was a time when television networks subsidized their newscasts with revenue from their other shows, treating their newscasts as non-profit public services. In such times, news providers were motivated to be accurate with their coverage.

In a very real sense, capitalism killed news credibility.

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[Phil1111 1,176]

jcd11235

***People actually bought into the concept of free news.

It's not free news that is the problem. It's for profit news. Once news providers are motivated by profit, whether that profit is derived from subscriptions or ads, their interests shift to audience size, and they are compelled to tailor stories to the widespread confirmation biases of their audience.

There was a time when television networks subsidized their newscasts with revenue from their other shows, treating their newscasts as non-profit public services. In such times, news providers were motivated to be accurate with their coverage.

In a very real sense, capitalism killed news credibility.

I disagree with both of you. profit has little to do with the equation. I trust NOAA its representations are funded by the state yet everything they represent is supported by science and peer reviews.
There are some respected independent evaluations of unbiased informations sources:
http://www.visualcapitalist.com/least-most-trusted-news-sources/
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/10/30/which-news-organization-is-the-most-trusted-the-answer-is-complicated/

Other rankings of trusted news sources have been referenced on these forums frequently. The most important factor is if the news source has an agenda, political, social, pro-business, etc. There is nothing necessarily wrong with a pro-business agenda. The Wall Street Journal has one. But they would editorialize ideas that downplay the protections of environment and the economic drag of rising debt. Net they are accurate in their reporting.

If the agenda is more or less balanced. Is accurate in fact.It can generally be trusted. When a grain of truth is distorted. Twisted and expanded to exaggerate its importance. With the sole intent to push an agenda. Be it the aforementioned, the status quo, or another. Then fake news, aka propaganda is created.

[Bob_Church 7]

wmw999

Beautifully said.

Wendy P.

Thanks. Film at 11

[rushmc 23]

How about Trump is going to fire Mueller?

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[Bob_Church 7]

rushmc

How about Trump is going to fire Mueller?

They've been trying to fire Mueller since season 1, then he and Sculley save the world and he keeps his badge.

[jcd11235 0]

Phil1111

I disagree with both of you. profit has little to do with the equation.

Sure it does. When news decisions are driven by business interests, content tends to suffer.

Phil1111

There is nothing necessarily wrong with a pro-business agenda. The Wall Street Journal has one. But they would editorialize ideas that downplay the protections of environment and the economic drag of rising debt. Net they are accurate in their reporting.

Net, they are a less credible source of information than NPR, BBC, and PBS.

That's not to say that no for-profit news source is credible, but there's a reason that public news sources are clustered near the top & center.

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!