Let’s Try This

It seems that the source of information people use dictates their understanding of how things are. With so little cross over from one source to another and suspicion of each, it is time to re-define information. An informed society is the underpinning of democracy and therefore paramount to its very existence as evidenced by the many confrontations of 2020. We must feel some level of trust in what we are being told. Unless we can all agree on facts, we will never be able to unite and all the talk about bringing us back together will be nothing but more platitudes. With that, let’s try this.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should promulgate rules defining publicly disseminated information. All forms of commercial media that fall under the auspices of the FCC will be subject to these definitions and fines and other enforcement. All communications must be prominently and continually (in the case of audio and video) labeled according to the definitions below.

NOTE: This assumes newspapers and social media are or will be under FCC regulation.

News – Articles labeled as news are to contain only observable facts seen or heard by two or more people with attribution. No allusions or non-attributable quotes may be used. Any statements must be assigned to the named person(s) who said or wrote them. Any and all content must be verified by at least two sources and subject to independent verification by other parties. By-line authors, their editors and publishers are all subject to penalties for failing to follow the rule.

Analysis – Media labeled as analysis can contain innuendo, background and context for the topic. Non-factual or unsubstantiated information (unable to be independently verified with at least 2 sources) must be labeled as such. Hearsay, and “on condition of anonymity” are dis-allowed.

Commentary – This content allows the communicator to offer their thoughts on the meaning of the subject. They can express their views but only in the context of the facts as defined above and their analysis of the topic. It cannot contain non-factual information but the writer is allowed to bring in disparate facts they feel offer support to their position.

Opinion – Here the writer is free to express their thoughts using hypotheticals, non-attributable background information, hearsay and any manner of sources of other information. Opinion is just that, one person’s thinking based on whatever it is that brought that thinking to them.