C itorial |

e opinions expressed in this column do not neces- “ily reflect those of the staff of this publication, or the Student Union.

it necessarily the news!

live in acountry and society where freedom of ech and freedom of the press are fundamental hts every member holds.

-are all taught that the news we hear, see and read elling us what is going on in the world. We are

9 taught to not believe everything we hear. Which : do we believe? Unfortunately, when it comes to news, we tend to believe in the former, and often

eryday the news tells us about events around the rid, but how reliable is the information we are fesented? Much of the foreign news comes from formation that was given to the media by the other intries government. How accurate and fair do you ik this information would be. Would you believe sraeli report about the situations in the occupied Hritories, or would you believe the South African overnments analysis of the situation for minorities

hat country?

doubt many people would answer yes to either one

i these questions, but in fact, these situations and

Ny more arise each day in our evening news broad- . What is worse, is the fact tat these reports are

sented as. facts and not as the slanted information

ews and look at the world based on these reports.

ional news. The government releases informa- Ito the media thatis inturn reported asnews. Sis a very dangerous situation for the media to be st what point does the media step back and take a ‘atthe stuff they are passing offas news.

‘Specially dangerous when this news is used asa

Classical examples of this is the reports that erging from the Chernobal accident where the read ‘'2000 Dead’’, or the Oka standoff last ven more recently, the Gulf War. All of grotesque examples of media abuse

sally i is. And every evening we accept these reports

fo Rivals, the same situation ris¢s in our national

andist weapon in order to sella specific idea or

Even our everyday views are influenced by the medias" creative reports. Think of how we viewed the Soviets 10 years ago, or how we now view some of the situa- tions in the Middle East. Think of what we associate when we hear the names Norriaga or Hussain.

Why do we associate certain thing with certain people. or situations? It is because that is the picture that the mass media try to sell us. That is the picture we are also believing. It would be great to hear the news from other perspectives, weather from other countries or from other groups, I am sure that their story would be justas believable.

Remember, don’t believe everything you hear. It may not be as it appears. Everything has two sides, the

news only shows one.

And that’s the way it isn’t.

hoy

Cory Large Editor 2686969669696 , THURSDAYS o O: ARE — i a ws: WERE SENDING YoU 2 @: TO CANCUN, MEXICO <= 29 : © ©: V2 PRICE DRINKS cies @:. TIL 10:30 a Or a ©: WIN UP TO 20000 “S By BUERY THURSDAY = CO : cm ( “ s si .

Cu a U Garlotetown

o: AVEOUS

» Restaurants Lounge + FUL

Se 989e 9e6

i “Wark 26.

yore 3s I aee ‘