Language challenge: media

Words matter, so word carefully to avoid confirmation bias

A language challenge for you: challenge yourself to say, instead of “the media” something specific and accurate like “members of the media”or “that reporter” or “that columnist at such-and-such news organization” instead.

Here’s why: there is no one “media,” for starters. None of us are all in on a big plot and operating in lockstep. So, it’s a misnomer anyway. But, it’s also language used by people who detest the fourth estate, and to use the language of the argument risks reinforcing it. Lastly, specificity goes a long way to help fight misinformation.

So, rather than angrily tweeting “Dear media! Stop saying X” instead try “Totally disagree with so-and-so at Washington Post/CNN/Wherever who said X.” The first options make it more difficult for all journalists to do their jobs because it paints all members of the news media as operating in unison, thus allowing confirmation bias persist and information harder to grasp for those who most need to grasp it.