Knowledge in The Time of #COVID-19

Check Your Sources

Ben Bradlee said, “As long as a journalist tells the truth, in conscience and fairness, it is not their job to worry about consequences. The truth is never as dangerous as a lie in the long run. I truly believe the truth sets people free."

He also said, "Everybody who talks to a newspaper has a motive. That's just a given. And good reporters always, repeat always, probe to find out what that motive is."

For journalists in public media  there needs to be an understanding that your audience has a thirst for knowledge. Besides, the echo chambers of the partisans have no place in a healthy democracy or in journalism.

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
- Proverbs 18:15 (NIV)

In times of profound change, the learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.
- Eric Hoffer

Here's the point. We should constantly be seeking answers. The facts, as we know them, are not static.

Scientists search for answers based on a hypothesis, then try to prove or disprove the hypothesis. Once they reach a conclusion, they will likely come up with 10 more questions. As more is uncovered, more questions arise. Even the conclusions are not set in stone as the world in which the discoveries were made changes. 

What brought me here was watching the president react to some straightforward questions at his press conference yesterday. Because the questions seemed to challenge his talking points, he became angry and walked away. It wasn't the first time. It won't be the last.

Keep Questioning - Keep Searching

Segregation Is Holding Us Back

Implicit Bias

Diversity and inclusion are indicators of a strong society. Still, segregation persists. 

WalletHub measured the gaps between blacks and whites across 22 key indicators of equality and integration in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their data set ranges from median annual income to standardized-test scores to voter turnout. #diversity #inclusion #equality

Most Segregated States

The least diverse states are all up north. The results didn't surprise me, but I used to live in one of these states and I experienced some of the aspects of systemic racism, most notably, a bank loan officer who pulled out his redline map. He said I could not get a loan for houses in certain areas because they were black neighborhoods. 

Could it be because of systemic barriers? 

Here's a series of videos that define systemic barriers.   

Race Forward

They include:

The Wealth Gap

Employment

Housing Discrimination

Government Surveillance

Incarceration

We cannot do anything about the past. We can do something moving forward.