Misinformation

[Fuzz]

Moved from Iran thread:

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Which media is not compromised though? Genuinely, I'm not asking that to start a back and forth scrap.

Our media and it's "journalists" in recent history seem to be the greatest purveyors of propaganda. Or maybe it only seems "recent" because of my age - 38. Perhaps it's been going on for decades/generations and I was just too young to understand (or not alive).

An interesting quote from Joe Kent this morning, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center who just resigned due to America's involvement in Israel's war with Iran:

"Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran. This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent thread to the United States..."

Well not ABC, or anyone else who so clearly folded to Donald. And honestly, I don't even know who that is down there, maybe PBS? NPR?

FOLKENFLIK: And let's be clear. You know, I've heard from conservative friends in recent days saying, gosh, everything that the press is throwing up there is just designed to discredit Trump and make him look bad. But there are examples of news outlets doing real reporting to try to figure out the facts. Take The New York Times. It did independent forensic work to verify that U.S. missiles did strike a school for girls that was close to an Iranian army base in the town of Minab on February 28. And examining similar satellite footage, NPR made similar determinations.

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/08/nx-s1...ed-war-in-iran


NYT? I understand all organizations will get stuff wrong, but we can't write them all off. BBC, DW, and CBC all are not perfect, but I think instead of writing them off when they get something wrong, you give them a chance to correct it.

[Yamer]

You're pretty safe sticking with news agencies rather than networks.

Canadian Press, Associated Press, Reuters, Al Jazeera, etc.

Look for information, not to be told how to feel about that information.

[Fuzz]

I've been wary of Al Jazeera, is it really that trustworthy?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I've been wary of Al Jazeera, is it really that trustworthy?

I find that when it comes to reporting on Middle East news, you can see the Qatari state narrative coming through. On more global reporting, I think it's as good as any.

Media critique websites seems to have them down the middle when it comes to credibility (mixed).

I do like some of their documentary style segments (they had one about UAPs that was kind of goofy, but entertaining), but when it comes to Middle East reporting, I like like to shop around. That's just me.

[Firebot]

Al-Jazeera has journalists readily on hand in areas like Gaza and Tehran which most other news organizations do not have active access, with much more on the ground footage and close quarters info. Make of this what you will.

When you look at articles on touchy subjects, you will find some anti-west narrative seep into what should be a fairly objective news piece. Like in this case with the January riots in Iran you can actually see some very factual statements, but mixed in with words or statements that would never belong in an objective article.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/...-sweeping-iran

Some like using it as it has a side of the news often not covered by 'western' media.

There are also rumours that some journalists were in fact Hamas operatives masquerading as journalists. Of course that is still heavily heated and debated.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/...za-journalists


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anas_Al-Sharif

They are a good read / watch with an * on certain subjects that you need to be mindful of potential narratives overtaking objective reporting