I do see what he is getting at.

That fact is (though many in the so-called main-stream media deny it), that anyone with even a modicom of ability for "Critical Thinking", can detect when they are not hearing the whole story, or when what they are told just doesn't add up.

Then there are many cases when what is actually personally eyewitnessed, flatly contradicts what is reported on the news. Since I am employed in a "highly visable" circumstance within the rail industry, that happens to me almost daily. Many in this railroad forum it seems, have also noticed this and been annoyed by it. That annoyance and criticism of the media is well justified.

Years ago, before the great dumbing down in America, "Critical Thinking" was a high school subject all its own. I certainly hope it is still a part of any college level journalism curriculum. But then maybe its lack is why the media has lost all appearance of objectivity - Won't even try for it. Sadly, American news sources are the worst of all - appallingly so. The British media seems to be the best. At least you can still get divergent views there.

Most of us are not as stupid as many media elites believe. We do honestly look for the missing pieces. But in the dominant American media, we generally look in vain.

Severe errors or false claims plague almost every news story. Mind you, they are (usually) not made false because of any outright lie, but because some part of the whole truth has been left out - sometimes conveniently.

Ironically, the book "An Unconvenient Truth" is prime example; as it flatly leaves out many scientifically accepted facts that might have otherwise lead the reader to a very different conclusion. Beware when power mongering politicians are the messengers.

And please don't apologize or make excuse for any industry's failings, whether it be the rail industry, or the news media. Instead, let's hope that when you finally enter the profession, you will be able to bring it up a notch or two. We all need that desparately.

OPB