This is awesome. 

Convergence is when different media meld together, for example- newspapers publishing their content online.

I don’t really think Relationship Obituary is an example of convergence, but I think it’s clever as all get out.  A fitting answer to the smoochy-woochiness of Valentine’s Day.

I should have written this sooner.  I’d like to explain the reasons for my tyrades and why I think media literacy is important.

First of all, the media is of vital importance to us as citizens of our countries and the world.  It’s especially important in an election year.  The media are our link to our government.  Being aware of the tactics politicians use on the media (and the tactics the media use on politicians) gives us a better understanding of the political process, and helps us filter through the BS.  Being more media literate makes us better participants in the democratic process.

Secondly, the media try to sell you stuff.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  You need some stuff.  The nasty bit comes when you accept advertising at face value.  Advertising is NEVER an objective source.  By being aware of the tricks of the advertising trade you can be a better informed consumer.

Thirdly, and most importantly:  The media are EVERYWHERE.  Newspapers, radio, television, the internet, magazines, billboards, fliers, blah, blah, blah.  It permeates EVERYTHING.  By thinking more critically about the media, we would then think more critically about EVERYTHING.  We’d be less susceptible to woo-woo claims because the media are how woo peddlers get our attention.  They don’t spend money testing their bogus product so they can spend lots of money advertising to the gullible.  This applies to all pseudoscientific crap.  The Discovery Institute doesn’t have to spend money making new scientific discoveries so they can spend all their money on public relations.  This is a disadvantage to the scientific community, who must spend most of the money they actually figuring out how the world works.  By being more media literate we can level the playing field and keep idiots from dragging us back a few centuries, or luring us into buying products that don’t do a damn thing.

Basically the job of the media is to get you to react in some way, whether it be to buy a product, subscribe to their newspaper, affect public opinion, and on and on.  By being more media literate we can have more of a say in how we react.

Holy crap! In Oklahoma a reporter actually followed up on a story of a psychic aiding police once the psychic failed. This is incredibly rare. NOT solving a case is rarely reported.

This was originally reported when Les Morton, the Woodward County Sheriff, consulted Jeff Baker- a former contestant from America’s Psychic Challenge.

Disgusted that a sheriff would waste resources on such things? Me, too. Well apparently this isn’t the first time Morton consulted a psychic:

“I have talked to four or five different psychics, and we still haven’t found Logan’s body,” the sheriff said. “But this is my first time dealing with a psychic directly.”

Four or five different psychics? Seriously? Well…that certainly lends some irony to this quote from the Woodward County Sheriff’s Office website: (emphasis mine)

The citizens of Woodward County elected Morton to the office where he has faithfully served since January 1, 1997.

Under the direction of Sheriff Morton the Woodward County Sheriff’s Office was reconstructed and brought into the new millennium.

New millenium? Hiring a psychic? (insert maniacal laughter)

Here’s another bit of disgusting:

Morton said he knows there are people who do think he is nuts for bringing in a psychic to search for Tucker.

However, he said he would hope that “if it were their child that was missing, that they would want us to put in as much effort as we are in finding Logan.”

Psychics have that same exact hope, Sheriff. It keeps them in business preying on the desperate. Logan’s death is horrible and his body does need to be found. But there’s already a victim of murder in this case. Why add yourself to the list as a victim of fraud?

I’ve been trying to find out when Morton is up for re-election. I think it’s this year. According to this, Woodward County once held elections on even years. I can’t find out if that’s still true. If it is, Morton is up for re-election this year. I hope I remember to check up on him.

Speaking of remembering to check up on things- well done, Rowyn Ricks, for following up and not considering the psychic’s failure a non-event. Most news outlets would only write a follow up story if the kid was found and ignore any coincidences involved. Way to hold your sheriff accountable and not let the “psychic” move the goal posts.

I don’t have anything to contribute to the insane number of analyses of the Superbowl ads.  I just wanted to share this sciency, nifty tid-bit from Advertising Age.  Using EEG to study response to advertising.  Neato.

I will say that the Superbowl might just be the most media literate time of year.  At no other time do consumers pay such close attention to the ways in which sponsors try to get them to react.  People discuss and critique the Superbowl ads.  They compare them to previous years.  They marvel at the production values and the money spent on the ads.  It’s interesting.

I’ve often thought that greater public media literacy, while it would be good for people thinking skeptically about woo-woo, it would be bad news for advertisers since it would be more to create an effective ad.  People would be wiser to their tricks.  The Superbowl makes me think otherwise.  If someone makes a good ad, people take notice.

I was willing to throw the advertising industry on the altar of critical thinking.  Maybe we wouldn’t have to.

I love the webbernets.  The webbernets are great.  It allows me to sit here and typety-type-type away in the hopes that people from all over the world will read what I have to say.

Obviously I’m not the only one with these hopes.  There are tons of assholes like me who think their thoughts are worth reading.  I’m pretty upfront about my credentials and sources, however.  This isn’t a news blog.  It is, at times, a blog about news practices.

I have to doubt the ethics behind “news sites” that publish damn near anything that is submitted to them without questioning the writer’s credentials and sources.  It’s bad enough that media consumers so often don’t consider the source of the information.  It’s way worse when the gatekeepers of the information are guilty of the same thing.  These media outlets peddle crap in the form of news.

There are tons of these sites.  You can’t spit on a search engine without hitting one.  But the one I’d like to make an example of is American Chronicle.  Look at these articles:

Herbal Therapy for Diverticulitis

Bronchitis Home Remedies and Bronchitis Chinese Medicine

Biofeedback and Supplements for Congestive Heart Failure

I have to ask:  Who the hell are Ricky Hussey and Mike Hussey?  I tried to find out by emailing them but haven’t heard back.   Any search I do for them only comes up with those incredibly dangerous articles.  I don’t find any home pages for them.  Who are these guys?  Are they the same person?  Hmm…now that I think of it, I’ve never seen both their names on the same article (tee hee).  NONE of their articles list any credentials whatsoever.  Certainly not as medical doctors.  There’s not even any mention of them being trained in homeopathy.  Not that homeopathic training would make it okay to offer advice on such serious medical conditions such as Congestive effing Heart Failure, but if you believe in homeopathy I’d imagine you’d still want advice from someone who knows what the hell they’re talking about.  You’d think if they had any credentials they would be happy to cite them and lend credibility to their claims.  Apparently they’re at least smart enough not to make up credentials.

Look at the article on Congestive Heart Failure.  Even the “doctors” they cite don’t have any credentials listed.  “Dr. Pizzorno,” “Dr. Lieberman,” “Alan Gaby, M.D,” “Alan P. Brauer, M.D,” “Dr. Pina.” Who are these doctors?  Where do they practice?  I was able to find some info on the ones with full names given:

Dr. Gaby received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his M.S. in biochemistry from Emory University, and his M.D. from the University of Maryland. He was in private practice for 17 years, specializing in nutritional medicine. He is past-president of the American Holistic Medical Association and gave expert testimony to the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine on the cost-effectiveness of nutritional supplements.

‘Nuff said. Click here for Dr. Brauer’s resume.

But just look American Chronicle.  They almost looks like a reliable news site with reliable sources.  But wait…what’s that down at the bottom of EVERY page?  Lower…lower…no, even lower than the footer…stop:

The American Chronicle and its affiliates have no responsibility for the views, opinions and information communicated here.
The contributor(s) and news providers are fully responsible for their content. 
In addition, the views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the American Chronicle or its affiliates.All services and information provided on this website are provided as general information only.
Any medical advice, home remedies and all other medical information on this website
should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor. 
We not responsible for any diagnosis of treatment made by anyone based on any of the content of this website.
Always consult your own doctor if you are in any way concerned about your health.

Seriously, American Chronicle?  Below the footer, even?  Way to cover your ass, I guess.  With the highly dangerous advice every single one of these articles offers, putting this disclaimer in tiny letters below EVERYTHING else might not be the most ethical course of action.  If you’re not going to take responsibility for the crap you distribute, you can at least take responsibility for warning people.

Lessons to be learned:  Consider the source and read the fine print.

So…the American Chronicle and their ilk distribute dangerous medical advice.  You know what I heard?  I heard every Friday night, American Chronicles and their ilk conduct high stakes cock fights  out of the basement of their skeevy Uncle Mack’s house.