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tell you the number of stories I helped with titled "Moose on the Loose".

So basically, when we watch the news, we are entitled to the tragic and the absurd. And if drawing you in with trivial, freakish, or disturbing stories isn't enough, nowadays the Networks have a "news ticker" that constantly scrolls at the bottom of the screen with more information. It's purpose is not to inform, but to alarm. Even the most trivial and unsubstantiated report on terrorist activity will flash across your screen to keep your rapt attention. News stories are given sensational names like "TERROR IN THE HEARTLAND". To watch the news, you'd think the world was in a constant state of chaos, with explosions, murders, and robberies happening all over the place. But that's only the case in Iraq.

I've driven cross country several times, and I typical find the trip to be inspiring and relaxing. Rarely, if ever, have encountered a serial killer, rapist, tornado, brush fire, kidnapper, or terrorist.

Ultimately, the people pay the price. Our news supply is tainted. The quality of information we receive is watered down, superficial, and misleading. My advice is to simply ignore network news altogether. Stay abreast of current events by accessing Reuters directly. And check out Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting at www.fair.org. This is a national media watch group that has been offering well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship since 1986. There's also www.mediachannel.org, which provides a similar function and has been endorsed by Walter Cronkite.

If you do find yourself watching the news, just remember that you are watching a creation of reality, and not an objective representation. You can get an accurate portrait of the world, but you have to work for it.

Learn more about this author, Seth Hymes.
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