[The Piper]

Media is a very large landscape so it's important to be a "healthy skeptic" when it comes to news. Never before has information been weaponized like it is today. When you have the "leader" of the free world constantly labeling journalists as "enemy of the people," it's easy to understand why many people are confused. Still, journalism is the only protected business (First Amendment) for a reason. The Founding Fathers knew that if Congress or the Courts failed to check the power of the Executive Branch, it would fall to the press (or Fourth Estate) to hold truth to power. That's why this is a critical time for journalists to pursue the truth even when it's unpopular to do so. It's also important for consumers to question sources and challenge information they see and hear from news services or TV stations. I prefer print though most of my reading comes from online sources. I specifically don't trust talking heads who appear after 6 p.m. as "personalities" who are driven by ratings and not news. Trust doesn't mean that reporters from the Washington Post, N.Y. Times, Axios, The Atlantic or Vox don't makes mistakes. They do. The difference is that reporters from these outlets admit to errors and try to learn from them (or they are fired). Others are motivated only by providing information that confirms the bias of those who watch. Being truly informed (rather than entertained) takes work, time, and effort. And it's never been more important.