by Lyn Dee

Created on: September 06, 2006   Last Updated: August 04, 2008

I once agreed to give an interview to a local newspaper. I was happy to do this as it meant some free publicity for my new business. Three people arrived at the appointed time - a reporter, a trainee reporter and a photographer. Wow! I felt like a celebrity!

The reporters asked me some questions about the business and my personal background. I answered slowly and carefully while the trainee wrote down my answers. He then read back the questions and answers to check he'd got all the facts correct. I confirmed that he had.

But when the piece appeared in print I was dismayed to find it was full of errors. Some of the things they'd got wrong were my shop's opening hours, the length of time I'd lived in the area, and the names and ages of my children. I couldn't believe someone could make so many mistakes in just a few hundred words.

And that is just one reason why I don't believe everything I see or hear in the media.

There are three types of misinformation that commonly occur.

Firstly, there are the genuine mistakes. In print, these would include typing and copying errors, or the wrong caption being attached to a photo. On TV and radio an announcer might mix up two names or misread a script. In these cases, the publisher or broadcaster is usually happy to admit and correct the mistake. They might even apologise for it.

Then, there are the downright lies; statements and headlines that have no basis in truth. They could be the result of sloppy journalism; reporters not checking their sources and editors not spotting the obvious flaws. A more cynical explanation might be that the more sensational these stories are, the more sales or higher ratings they generate. This makes them far more profitable than stories that concentrate on the truth.

There are, of course, libel laws to protect people from defamation. In practice though, bringing a legal action is not only expensive but can also be extremely complicated and time-consuming, especially if more than one country is involved. A high-profile court case can itself attract unwanted publicity that, even if the case is eventually won, can seriously damage an organisation or ruin an individual's reputation.

The third type of media misinformation is often the hardest to spot. A story will contain verifiable facts and seem plausible, but closer inspection will reveal either that it does not contain the whole truth, or that it has been presented in such a way that it reflects the writer's own opinions and prejudices.

For example, a newspaper that supports a particular political party might take an optimistic quote from a speech by the leader of that party as its headline, but omit or play down gloomier parts of the speech. A website campaigning to improve the lives of a minority group of people will highlight the difficulties such people face but might not mention any advantages they have over other groups.

So how can you tell the truth from all the spin, rumours, manipulation of statistics and accidental or deliberate misprints? The answer is to do your own investigations. If you are interested in a particular story, read as many different versions as you can find. Look at how it has been reported in other countries. Check Internet forums where the subject has been discussed. You might even decide to publish your version of the truth - but don't be surprised if others disagree with you.

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