How do we get “Real” local news? Who asks the tough questions?
Who holds anyone to account?
Someone asked me about the rash of incidents in Red Deer involving holes being drilled into cars’ gas tanks. I knew nothing but this person living in Southern Alberta heard about it. Is it “Fake” news? Is it real?
Two days later over lunch, I was asked about finding local news as the questioner thought the local websites and papers dealt very little with local news and either dealt with entertainment or world news easily obtained elsewhere.
Then to end the week, another friend asked me about local accountability and how do we find the other side or the background of a story in Red Deer.
The week began with questions from a group of the Millennial generation, with divided opinions of the trustworthiness of Facebook, the popularity of Twitter, and a myriad of other sites and Apps.
Then the concerned parties were from older segments of society. Believe it but some were even older than me.
Have we seen the end of reliable journalism? Will we think that every article could be fake news planted by a foreign power hoping to influence our thoughts?
How many websites do we have to visit to find out what is happening across the street, down the road, or around the corner?
It is easy to wish for a single source but is it possible?
Reporting the news is expensive and time consuming, and news reporters need to be profitable. Advertisers need a larger market than a local media outlet specializing in local news can offer. So what do we do?
Surprising enough there is some desire for a step back to old time newspapers. Have breakfast at an A&W sometime and watch the newspapers flow around the room.
But there is a need for journalism, questions, investigative reporting, and stories that tell both sides of an issue?
How do we achieve it if it is possible?
Years ago I subscribed to the National Post, the Edmonton Journal and the Red Deer Advocate, and the standing joke was you would read a story first in the National Post, the second day it would be in the Edmonton Journal then the third day it would appear in the Red Deer Advocate.
I supported the local media, but it started to feel redundant if I was getting news late and not getting the local stories that I was hoping for. Like many I now get my news from various sources, including websites and apps but it reminds me a lot of the old rumor mill and you wonder what you can believe?
Will we ever have a trustworthy reporter who we can count on to ask the tough questions, know the facts and keep us informed about what is happening “Here”? I think those days are gone, do you?