Distrust of the Media

Shaw’s April 1 article questioned why confidence in the media is at such a low ebb. The article perhaps answers that question in the first paragraph. Shaw begins by stating that “by almost any reasonable measure” today’s media are more responsible than their predecessors. He then goes on to discuss many ethical measures regarding “how” the media obtain news stories. Never does he mention the most basic “reasonable measure” of media confidence, namely the accuracy of “what” is presented. The poll the article is based on makes the same omission.

It is encouraging to know that at least part of the media are concerned with the ethics of “how” they get stories, but the more important ethic is the truth and accuracy of the story itself. Next time I suggest you ask the simple question “do you believe what the media tell you?”

JAMES R. GIFFORD

Rancho Palos Verdes