#Telling the Truth

[contemplatingoutlander]

JOURNALISTIC CHOICES: Telling the Truth vs. "Bothsidesism"

Ben Raderstorf does a great job in this article discussing the dilemma modern journalism has in covering a lying, dangerous authoritarian like Donald Trump, without "appearing partisan." Raderstorf argues against bothsidesism, and in favor of good journalists just simply telling the truth.

[T]he best way for independent, fact-based media to win back the audiences they’re losing to polarization is to not chase them.... But rather, to double-down on independence, objectivity, and honesty. To report reality as it is and to let the chips fall where they may. To draw a hard distinction between the normal political jockeying of healthy democracy and actions that threaten our system of government.   Back in 2022, in response to questions from reporters about how to discern between those two things, we wrote a report on how experts understand threats to democracy: The Authoritarian Playbook: How reporters can contextualize and cover authoritarian threats as distinct from politics-as-usual. 

"Modern autocrats don't crush journalism — they corrupt it." 

Raderstorf also talks about how 21st century autocrats like Viktor Orbán (who is a role model for Trump) apply pressure in subtle ways to eventually "corrupt" journalism.

These days, many autocrats don’t just smash printing presses, throw reporters in jail, and be done with it. Often they pursue a more nuanced, and more insidious, strategy.   With a combination of intimidation, coercion, and financial manipulation, they slowly corrode the independence and autonomy of the press until it ceases to be a meaningful check on power. The media still exists; it’s just an empty shell, a useful facade.   Put differently, modern autocrats don’t crush journalism — they corrupt it. 

[See more below the cut about the role of "anticipatory obedience" and the changes in leadership at CNN and The Washington Post.]

[edited]

"ANTICIPATORY OBEDIENCE": An Explanation for Why CNN and The Washington Post Changed Their Leadership

Raderstorf mentions how the two journalistic outlets that Trump targeted most vehemently as president are the two that eventually replaced their leadership--and as a result, weakened their journalistic integrity.

In an article this week in the Columbia Journalism Review, my colleagues Ian Bassin... and Maximillian Potter ... dive into several case studies. They connect troubling dots suggesting that Donald Trump deployed the Orbán strategy in his first term to greater effect than many realize. [...] In their piece, Ian and Max explore the two major instances in Trump’s first term when he attempted to wield the powers of the presidency against journalists for coverage he didn’t like. First, by threatening to block a proposed merger between CNN’s parent company, Time Warner, and AT&T. Second, by looking to raise shipping rates on Amazon, whose owner, Jeff Bezos, also owns the Washington Post.  In both cases, Trump mostly failed to carry out his threats. But… it’s also true that both CNN and the Post subsequently went through high-profile leadership shakeups at least partly in response to Trump. For CNN, this was Chris Licht’s short-lived tenure and disastrous efforts to make the network “more neutral.” For the Post, it was Bezos installing a new publisher: “Will Lewis, a former Rupert Murdoch executive who has spent most of his career in right-wing media.” [...] Timothy Snyder writes in On Tyranny that autocratic leaders often succeed simply because the media, business leaders, and civil society look ahead to possible repression and move preemptively towards self-preservation. What he calls “anticipatory obedience."

[ausetkmt]

Why did they set up Ta-nehisi Coates ?

the set him up cause he explained their Fuckery - Right Here

Click the Title Link for a FREE DOWNLOAD

THE MESSAGE - TA-NEHISI COATES

THEY KNOW HE KNOWS AND HE'S TELLING EVERYONE

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The renowned author of Between the World and Me journeys to three resonant sites of conflict to explore how the stories we tell—and the ones we don’t—shape our realities. “Ta-Nehisi Coates always writes with a purpose. . . . These pilgrimages, for him, help ground his powerful writing about race.”—Associated Press “Coates exhorts readers, including students, parents, educators, and journalists, to challenge conventional narratives that can be used to justify ethnic cleansing or camouflage racist policing. Brilliant and timely.”—Booklist (starred review) Ta-Nehisi Coates originally set out to write a book about writing, in the tradition of Orwell’s classic “Politics and the English Language,”but found himself grappling with deeper questions about how our stories—our reporting and imaginative narratives and mythmaking—expose and distort our realities. In the first of the book’s three intertwining essays, Coates, on his first trip to Africa, finds himself in two places at once: in Dakar, a modern city in Senegal, and in a mythic kingdom in his mind.

Then he takes readers along with him to Columbia, South Carolina, where he reports on his own book’s banning, but also explores the larger backlash to the nation’s recent reckoning with history and the deeply rooted American mythology so visible in that city—a capital of the Confederacy with statues of segregationists looming over its public squares.

Finally, in the book’s longest section, Coates travels to Palestine, where he sees with devastating clarity how easily we are misled by nationalist narratives, and the tragedy that lies in the clash between the stories we tell and the reality of life on the ground.  Written at a dramatic moment in American and global life, this work from one of the country’s most important writers is about the urgent need to untangle ourselves from the destructive myths that shape our world—and our own souls—and embrace the liberating power of even the most difficult truths.

Click the Title Link for a FREE DOWNLOAD

[runalongprincevaliant]

It’s so obvious why they’re trying to ban Al Jazeera. Isra-hell trying to hide their evil deeds and war crimes.

[dd-is-my-guiltypleasure]

This week's episode is a great one.

For clarity here is the interview he is talking about in the intro.

[marihoneywk]

Rhaegon is top 3 hotd shipps. Call me sick or whatever but they are very serious to me. Rhaenyra giving a kiss on Aegon’s forehead could’ve ended the war honestly.

[readingforaneternity]

One of my favorite complaints that *those* white readers, movie, and tv watchers have is that there is too much represnetation in media now. That they don’t see themselves in media anymore, and therefore cannot relate.

(Which is such a load bc white ppl have literally created a system where it’s just them, them, them. You can find a full white casted movie, tv show, and book much easier than you can with marginalized group rep. At least rep that is truthful to our lives and not romanticized and dramatized to spare white feelings.)

And this complaint is so funny to me as if I, a black girl in america, didn’t grow up watching and reading white stories over and over again. Stories I didn’t relate to or see myself in.

Now that’s not to say there wasn’t any representation. Of course there were the token poc characters that got three lines if they were lucky. And those token poc characters were written only to help the main white characters realize that the world isn’t as it seems. And “yes Jennifer, my skin color does in fact affect the way people perceive and treat me. Even you!”

The point isn’t about relatability. It is about the lesson. That’s what stories are. But with actually casting, hiring writers, directors, and producers who are from marginalized groups the lessons become life and it makes it real.

[scrollonso]

i'm from the future and landos gonna pit then zoom past everyone and pass max on the very last lap and get p1 for the first time ever (real) (just trust me)

[mycptsdstory]

After this year, I've learned a lesson.

When someone ghosts me, I know where the door is.

When someone ghosts you, it means they aren't mature enough to have an open, honest, raw and uncomfortable conversation with you.

I've stopped blaming myself when someone ghosts me. I blame them.

Like I said in a few posts that I did; when someone can't have that open, honest, raw, uncomfortable conversation with me... I'm leaving, for good.

I know you made your bed and I made mine. By me leaving and I'm never coming back.

[thsc-x-omori-au]

What are your brother's names, Ellie?

<--Previous Next-->

(Comic by Kai/LocalNerd)

[mugrootbeer]

TO ALL THE FUCKING HATERS TELLING ME THAT I'M FAKE, THAT I DON'T DRINK MUG ROOT BEER, AND THAT I DON'T ACTUALLY WORK FOR PEPSI CO: FUCK YOU BITCHES! HERE'S THE FUCKING PROOF!!! MUG FUCKING ROOT BEER!

[wolfcubx2]

Werewolves

The teenwolf au when is season 1 episode 7, when Allison asks Scott what's going on, instead of blaming Derrick he tells the truth.

[trashyswitch]

Day 8: Truth

Janus is infodumping about snakes, and both Roman and Virgil are bored. So, Virgil pulls a silly trick on Janus, to make him shut up and laugh at the same time. But that silly trick, as well as everything after, is a secret cover up for something else entirely...

Day 8. I hope you enjoy.

Janus happened to be rambling up a storm towards Roman. And Roman, though he was trying to hide it, was growing visibly bored of Janus’s tangents. Virgil could notice this right away. And honestly, he was getting bored of Janus’s conversation topic too. So, Virgil gently pulled out his pet tarantula and very quietly snuck up to Janus. 

“So the whole myth of snakes asphyxiating their prey through squeezing them, is very much a lie that should be re-educated. Why they don’t have a separate unit on snakes in school is beyond me…because people could learn so much from these interesting creatures of the ground!” Janus explained. 

Roman’s eyes were about to shut for the 57th time that afternoon, when her eyes suddenly fell upon a black blob on top of Janus’s hat. Roman’s eyes adjusted to see the blog clearly, before realizing what it was: 

It was a spider! A big, hairy tarantula! Roman was about to bring it up, but quickly stopped himself when he saw Virgil’s head with a finger over his own mouth, gently ordering him to shush. 

Roman watched as Virgil shook his head menacingly at him, almost to say ‘You mention I’m here, and I will shove your sword down your throat’. Roman quickly focused back on Janus as best he could. Virgil’s scary when he’s making that face…But despite ‘listening’ to Janus’s conversation, Roman would keep sneaking glances at the tarantula…

…Especially when it would start crawling around. 

“The most well-known habitats for snakes are the woodland areas, the forests, and the deserts. Of course, each and every type of snake has scientifically evolved to survive their respective habitats-” 

The tarantula crawled across the hat to the right side, leaning towards the bill of the hat.

“The fact about snakes surviving their head being cut off, is scientifically true. However: the idea that decapitated snakes can keep living up until sundown? That is quite false. You see, the snake’s brain doesn’t require as much oxygen to survive-” 

The snake crawled itself down the right side of the hat, towards the head. 

“They could even actually last a couple hours before experiencing brain death! It’s incredible, really. Though I don’t know how they would eat without a jaw, or know where to go without eyes. That is something I need to look up myself.” 

The spider fell onto Janus’s shoulder. And with pure luck, Janus didn’t even feel it! 

“Spiders don’t have ears to hear music. But they do have the ability to feel vibrations like we can. Scientists have actually discovered that classical music and Indian music, when turned on in front of a snake, can have a calming effect on them.” 

The spider crawled up to his collarbone, and up to the yellow t-shirt Janus was currently wearing. 

“It has also been discovered that snakes- Agh!” Janus brought his hand up to his right shoulder, and slapped it. Roman widened his eyes, covering his mouth. Did Janus just smack at the tarantula?!

But amazingly, Janus actually managed to miss the spider by a single inch! And that spider, terrified by the sudden threat on its life, crawled itself right into Janus’s shirt from its U-neck opening. 

“aaAH! What the-” Janus started patting himself down and lifted up his shirt to get the tarantula out of his shirt. “Get out of thehere!” Janus reacted, showing a slight smile as he started wiggling around. 

Roman widened his eyes and watched curiously as Janus struggled to get the tarantula out. “Oh wow…” Roman mumbled. 

“Stuhupid tarantulahaha-’ Janus let out, hugging his stomach and doubling over without squishing the tarantula. “Vihihirgil! Yohohour tarahantula got ohohohout agahahahain!” Janus yelled, a wobbly, toothy smile filling his face. 

Roman smirked and leaned his chin on his own palm. “What’s wrong, Jay? A little ticklish?” Roman asked. 

Janus squeaked and arched his back, laughing in a way that sounded almost hissy…ya know…like a snake would. “Waitwaitwait PLEHEHEhease!” Janue ordered. “Hohohold ohon-” Janus untucked his shirt and lifted it up. “Gehehet ohohoff mehehehe!” Janus begged, reaching back for the tarantula. 

Virgil appeared from behind Janus. “You realize you’re talking to a tarantula, right?” Virgil reminded him, pointing to his tarantula. “He doesn’t understand you.” Virgil told him. 

“Yohohou!” Janus tippy-tapped his toes as he struggled to handle the ticklish crawling on his back. “Gehehet ihihit ohohohoff!” He reacted, reaching behind his back to try and get the tarantula. 

Virgil smiled and crossed his arms. “Nah. I rather enjoy seeing you laugh like this.” Virgil reacted. “You remember Janus, don’cha?” Virgil teased in a small sing-song voice. 

Janus fell to his stomach and kicked his feet like a little school girl. And located on his back, was a little black, hairy, crawling creature. Virgil scooped up the little tarantula into his hands and put the tarantula onto his shoulder. “There you go, little guy.” Virgil said. Roman walked up and very hesitantly moved his finger closer to the tarantula. “W-Wow…” He mumbled. “He’s your p-p-” 

“Pet?” Virgil clarified. “Yup. My one and only.” he replied. “You wanna hold him?” Virgil asked next. 

Roman widened his eyes and bit his lip. “Uhhh…” He let out some quick breaths. “Uhhhhhhhh- Sure.” He replied awkwardly. 

Virgil looked up at Roman, and tilted his head. “Are you scared? You don’t need to if you’re-” 

Roman placed his hands down in a bowl motion. “Do it anyway. Thomas needs to get over his fear of spiders somehow.” Roman told him. 

Virgil shrugged his shoulders and moved the tarantula towards his fingers. “Slowly?” Virgil asked. 

Roman nodded. “Yeah.” 

Virgil let the tarantula scope out Roman’s hand. It touched the fingers gently with its front left leg, before touching it with its front right leg next. Then…when it felt the coast was clear, the tarantula walked gently onto Roman’s fingers to his palms. “Ohoho bohohoy…” Roman mumbled. 

“You feel okay?” Virgil asked. 

“Y-Yeah…Ihi think…” Roman replied. 

“Okay. Will you be okay if he just stays on your hand for a bit? I have some…business to attend to.” Virgil asked. 

Roman nodded his head. “Sure. Go ahead.” Roman replied, putting on a brave face. “If I can beat the dragon, then I can handle a tarantula.” Roman declared. 

Virgil turned around and walked up to Janus. “Alright, now onto you.” Virgil started skittering his fingers all over the snake boy’s sides and ribs. “You sir, need to admit something to me.” Virgil told him. 

“WAHAIT- NAHAHAhahaha!” Janus laughed, attempting to push him away. 

“Admit you’re a cute dangernoodle.” Virgil told him. “Wahahait WHAHAHAT?! NOHOHOHO!” Janus yelled. “That’s no #1! Meaning, I get to tickle you in one of your top 5 ticklish spots.” Virgil told him. 

“OHGODNOHOHO-! Nohoho fahahair!” Janus yelled. 

“Oho, this is completely fair! My little arthropod has been badly missing his deceitful uncle. And it’s been ages since his last tickle fight.” Virgil told him. “Like- Listen: He said ‘a tarantula can only tickle Virgil so many times before it gets boring!’. His words, not mine.” Virgil explained, smirking. 

“BUHUHUHULLROHOHOAR.” Janus yelled back. 

“Say what you want. But it won’t change how ticklish the scaly side of your back is.” Virgil mentioned before lifting up his shirt and going for the left side of his back. 

“WAHAIT- NAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AAAHAHAhahahahAHAHAHA!” Janus cackled, trying and failing to push Virgil away. 

But this didn’t stop the emo. This only increased that mischievous fire in his eye. “Like, my god. It’s such a shame there’s no cure for sensitive scales.” Virgil reacted. 

“SHUHUHUHUT UHUHUHUHUHUP!” Janus shouted at him.

“Now admit it: you’re a cute dangernoodle.” Virgil ordered. 

“HAHAHA- NOHOHO WAHAHAY!” Janus yelled back. 

Virgil sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “Suit yourself.” He walked himself to Janus’s belly, and stuck his fingers into Janus’s belly button. “Spot number 2.” He muttered out loud. 

Janus screeched almost like a girl, and doubled over in an attempt to get Virgil’s fingers away. “NAHAHAHAHAAA! EEEHEHEHEHEHE- STAHAHAP!” Janus yelled. 

“Admit it then.” Virgil told him. “AHAHADMIT WHAHAT?!” Janus asked. 

“That you’re a cute dangernoodle!” Virgil replied. “God, don’t you ever listen?!” Virgil asked in a joking manner. 

Janus pushed Virgil’s hands away and backed up as best he could. “Stahap-” Janus narrowed his eyes at him. “I am NOT a cute dangernoodle.” Janus admitted. 

Virgil smirked and turned to Roman. “You doing okay, Prince?” Virgil asked. 

Roman was struggling to keep himself calm while the tarantula was very slowly walking itself up his arm. Though, his tarantula had only hiked up half of the lower arm. 

“Oh yeah, my little buddy likes to walk around a bit. Here.” Virgil scooped up the tarantula from Roman’s arm and used his conjuring abilities to send his tarantula back to his cage. “There.” He smiled. “Now since Janus doesn’t seem to understand the word ‘truth’, wanna help me?” Virgil asked. 

Roman looked at Janus for a moment, who desperately shook his head ‘no’. But Roman only took this as a chance to agree. “Sure!” He replied eagerly. 

Virgil smiled. “Alright. Janus? You have one more chance to admit it. If you don’t comply, then we will resort to tickling 2 of your worst spots.” Virgil explained to him. 

Janus widened his eyes and looked at both the boys with intense nervousness. “But-” He shook his head and growled. “Why?! Why would you want me to admit something like that?!” He asked. 

Virgil looked at Roman, while Roman looked at Janus with a smile. “Because it’s the truth.” he admitted. 

Janus widened his eyes and looked at both sides. “W-Wait…” He narrowed his eyes.  “Is this a confession?” Janus asked. 

Roman giggled and scratched the back of his head as his face heated up. “Y-Yeah…It is.” he replied. “I…I like you, Janus.” 

“O-OH!” Janus reacted, looking at Roman. “I-” He wasn’t sure what to say. “Wow…” was all he could really say in response. 

Roman looked to his right, to where Virgil was. “Virgil-” Roman widened his eyes when his eyes fell on nothing. “V-Virgil?” 

Roman looked around, before his eyes fell on the stairs railing. Virgil was hiding behind it, signaling for Roman to ‘keep going’. Roman smiled and blushed a small bit. He whispered the words ‘thank you’ to Virgil before turning around to turn to Janus. 

“So…Since you gave me the chance to infodump for a while…perhaps you would like to infodump about something?” Janus offered. 

[a-rat-with-internet-accesses]

A part of me wants to live in an elevator and an other is deathly afraid of lifts

I am in a delima all of the time CAUSE THE MOTHERFUCKErS IN THERE CANNOT CHOOSE

Annoying

Wait i should have some thing for this

Wait let me find it real quick

I cannot find it but

^^ Me when my brain starts arguing again

..

Why does it feel like tumblr is the only app that realy cares for me? Like i will not remove you as you make me feel better about my self like Yay!

Also rhank god for privicy options yall are never gonna see hhe shit i enjoy and i maybe will reblog from other posts but currently too afraid to

[marauderswolf22]

i will never understand how someone can love winter. you like when it's freezing? okay i can accept that. you love christmas? me too. but the lack of sunlight? the lack of colour ANYWHERE? the lack of bees, loud birds and annoying insects? from january to march i feel dead.

in poland we sometimes have snow for some time, the rest is just grey mud and rains. maybe if in your country/area it's always snowy and fun you love winter, but with weather like ours? if you love winter, you're insane to me

[toothlespoggers]

sorry for that post guys I didn’t think that someone would lie about that I won’t just blindly accept things people send ask about anymore. Sorry for the trouble

If there’s something I could do to make it up to the person I accidentally put on blast please let me know I’d be willing to draw something for you or something to make you feel better

[fixjoy]

Christmas fortune-telling is a good tradition that originated in many countries around the world, especially popular among children and teenagers. This tradition implies that people on Christmas Day fortune-telling with the help of special techniques or predict their future with the help of various rituals.