Musing on Media

The Big picture.  Media a source of information or propaganda?    The challenge to decipher the truth and remain in the present.

The little screen in my palm.  A notification ping and I am on high alert to respond a connection fix.

Daybreak News

On rising what information floods ears, imprints on vision, captures feelings?

Can you step out into a new day unaffected by the media?

Can you decipher what you need to take in and when it is appropriate?

This year my resolution was to remain present.  Easy you would think .

Mmm No – I am aware of how quickly I can be distracted.  Missing to the Present.

Driving to work I flick on the radio hearing the weather report. A simple cloud is judged as stormy on the news.  Listen critically or turn off the radio, choices depending on how awake I am.

“He said that she said”

As kids we would run to each other and squeal about “he said…. or she said….”

Now we have Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat – social media providing the messages and images of “he said and she said…”.  My childhood did not involve social media – it was simple without a cyber footprint.

When my friend helped me connect to Facebook she said “I feel like I have just given a babe cocaine.”  That dopamine release with every click has an addictive lure, that takes me down a rabbit hole of adventures away from the people in front of me.  The life of a post has to hold up in a job interview,  a prospective partners review and a family meal discussion. POST button requires considering how words, images and sound travel beyond my home.  Responses to social media changes with my energy levels, how I judge myself, my relationship values and compassion bank (overdrawn, abundant).

We have many forms of staying connected via social media but nothing beats sharing in 3 D.

Broadcast on TERROR or  J  O  Y

LOVE greeted me in Denmark’s main street, it gave me such joy.

Too often I focus on the bad filtering out the good.  Susan Jeffers in her book “Embracing uncertainty” prompted me to review how I can take life as a terror attack or good news world.  She provides exercises in looking for the Joy ahead and challenge to spread the good news.

Blog blog went the frog

Blogging began as a challenge to hone writing skills.  To blog or not to blog questioning motives and how it will be responded to. I take a leap and publish hoping to do no harm.

Is this the intent of journalists I listen to and watch.  What are the demands on the journalists integrity? Do I tune in to what is being stated or tune out?

Home of the media

What are the vested interests that form a media nest ?  The home and ownership of the media determines its portrayal of the world.  News has a global market, with a bias according to its presenting nation.

I live in a country where I have a roof over my head, food on my table –  blessings.  There is no threat of bombing, famine and I can dress, speak, write without fear of recrimination.  Currently media is saturated with state election promises. There are multiple news channels, that are not all government owned but bound by  Australian broadcasting tribunals rules. My perception of media presentations is complicated by my privilege, education and curiosity to look beyond the tabloid, televised presentations.

Media is a tool to remain present in the world.  What ever world you watch, listen or live in.  We can all self determine medias impact, research the presentations, check in with peers and be mindful of how we are taking in the spin.   “There’s no such thing as bad media” true if you are resilient and have the tenacity to question.

References

Jeffers, S. (2003) Embracing uncertainty, St Martins Griffin, New York