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3 Random Tidbits

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Philosophy of Journalism
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Philosophy of Journalism.

3 random tidbits in about 5 minutes.

1.

A Philosophy of Journalism Article.

Subject: Journalism.

Spin, Falsehoods, and Lies.

Truth matters, but so does being fair about intent. Do not confuse spin, falsehood, and lying. Spin presents the best face. A falsehood is an untruth, and a lie is knowingly telling a falsehood.

Now to clarify.

Not every false statement is a lie. Some are errors. Some are spin. A lie requires intent. Think well by asking what was said, whether it was false, whether the speaker knew it, repeated it, and what happened after correction.

Now, the details…

First, spelling…

lying liars who lie

Do not confuse with “lier” which is someone who rests or reclines.

Spin, Falsehoods, and Lies

There is a big difference between spin, which we all do, and lies. To spin is to present the best presentation of the facts. Knowingly telling a falsehood, is a lie. If someone tells a falsehood, the civil standard is to say they told a falsehood. Calling an act a lie is reserved for when you know the person intentionally told a falsehood. A liar is someone who knowingly tells a falsehood many times over time. A compulsive liar is someone who knowingly tells multiple lies over time.

Governmental Press Secretaries spin. They present the best possible version of the truth. They should not lie, ever, no matter what. After all, they work for us the American people. When pressed, good Press Secretaries say “no comment” if they can’t find a spin or pivot and feel the need to lie. Horrible Press Secretaries dip into lying and should be shunned by all of us no matter what party they are spinning for. The only exception is when the Press Secretary is lying to keep American secrets secret.

Politicians spin all the time. Do not confuse that with telling a falsehood and lying. When a politician tells a falsehood, is corrected, and never repeats the falsehood, that’s okay. That’s acceptable behavior. Why? Because everyone makes mistakes. The goal is to learn from one’s mistakes. However, if anyone, politician or not, knowingly repeats a lie, that’s bad. Very bad, and they should be shunned by all of us.

 


That Philosophy of Journalism Article, 

was first published on TST 7 years ago.

The flashcard inspired by it is this.

Front: What is a statement accusing someone of wrongdoing before proof is established?
Back: Allegation.

 

2.

A Philosophy of Journalism Quote.

Subject: Allegorical Interpretation.

“…allegories…lay hold of the hidden sense which is concealed beneath the words”.

  • Philo of Alexandria.
  • circa 20 CE.
Allegories allow for deeper understanding of the wisdom embedded in the text of stories including literature, art, and movies.

To be clear.

An allegory is a literary technique in which the writing represents deeper meanings than the words might initially imply. Allegorical interpretation is the process of understanding the symbolic meaning behind a text or story. It allows for a deeper understanding embedded in literature, art, and movies.

Now, the details…

Writing is always about communication and sometimes that communication is direct, like “be kind to others.” And sometimes it is indirect, like Plato’s Allegory of the Cave in which he explores the illusions of life using men trapped in a cave trying to interpret the shadows on the wall.

The anchor for chapter 12 of “30 Philosophers” is Philo of Alexandria and the idea of allegory. In about 20 CE, the early Judaic thinker had a life-changing encounter with a mysterious sect of ascetics called the Therapeutae.

In his treatise “On the Contemplative Life,” he describes the Therapeutae as a model of the importance of contemplation and the study of texts beyond their words. Philo writes,

“They are also skillful in the use of allegories, for they do not confine themselves to the bare words, but lay hold of the hidden sense which is concealed beneath the words…”

Allegory is a literary technique in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract ideas or moral qualities.

Allegorical interpretation is the process of understanding the symbolic meaning behind a text or story.

It allows for a deeper understanding of the wisdom embedded in the text of stories including literature, art, and movies.

 


That Philosophy of Journalism Quote, 

was first published on TST 1 year ago.

The flashcard inspired by it is this.

Front: What do you call bias created by choosing only certain facts or voices?
Back: Selection bias.

 

3.

A Philosophy of Journalism Story.

From History:
Subject: Journalism.

Printing Press Invented.

1440
Germany
Publishing, whether the printing press or digital, transforms your ideas from private claims into public debate.

Put simply.

A claim hidden in one room is hard to challenge. A claim printed and circulated widely can be examined by many. Gather your thoughts well and use the public square wisely. Whether publishing on social media or using the printing press, take care when you bring your ideas into the public light.

Now, the details…

The story of the printing press is the story of cultural transmission. Invented in 1440 in Germany by Johannes Gutenberg, it revolutionized book production by introducing movable type. It replaced hand-copying, prone to errors, with movable metal type, allowing mass production of books for the first time in human history.

Over the next few centuries, the printing press went on to standardize writing like never before, including spelling and punctuation. Prior to the printing press, writing evolved spaces starting around 800 CE. By the invention of the printing press, we had punctuation pretty similar to today’s standard. About halfway, at the time of the Magna Carta in 1215, we still had mostly uppercase with spaces between words and an occasional period. Punctuation and spelling mostly standardized starting in the 1300s for the next century, just in time for the printing press.

 


That Philosophy of Journalism Story, 

was first published on TST 2 years ago.

The flashcard inspired by it is this.

Front: What is a line naming the writer of an article called?
Back: Byline.

 

The end. Refresh for another set.

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