DAY 16 STOP CORRUPTION - Corrupt Reporting

Day 16 - Corrupt Reporting

“Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.”
-Proverbs 20:17

OVERVIEW

Newspapers, blogs, citizen journalism, TV news, social media, YouTube, online news, photojournalism, magazines, news apps unfortunately, the expansion and innovation of technology can come at a price. For many media companies, news is no longer driven by quality of content.

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AREAS TO CONSIDER

• With the move to online media and plummeting readership, news organizations can feel forced to rely on flashy headlines and exaggerated storylines to heighten viewership numbers at the cost of accuracy and truth.
   
• For example, MSNBC is one of the top news reporting agencies in the nation, but according to the Pew Research Center, 85% of their reporting is opinion, although people generally accept what is reported as fact. (1)
   
• Editors are also faced with many challenges. Aside from deadlines and story quotas, editors must strive to please the media giants who own their papers. This can mean reporting from a specific perspective, choosing some sources over others, or giving a candidate or special interest group unequal focus over another to meet a certain objective or agenda.

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PERSONAL REPENTANCE

Father God, forgive me if I, in any way, have not been completely truthful or honest in areas of my life. I ask that You would help me uphold my integrity and word, and not be afraid of speaking or demonstrating honesty in my life.

CORPORATE REPENTANCE

Lord, we repent on behalf of our nation for allowing dishonest and corrupt reporting in our media. Forgive us for being influenced by false information and developing wrong opinions because of it. We ask that You would uncover and expose this by Your righteous hand.

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PRAY

1. Pray that the eyes of the public will be opened to agenda-driven news and that truth will prevail. (2 Kings 6:17)
    
2. Pray for the success of the news organizations who are making an honest attempt to report truth and fact. (Proverbs 12:22)
    
3. Pray for more Christian news outlets to arise that would report truth and accuracy while glorifying God in their work. (2 Corinthians 8:21)

 ACT

1. Educate yourself on the news outlets who are known to be selective and agenda-driven in their message. Do your own research when it comes to items like choosing a political candidate or supporting an important piece of legislation.

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SOURCES

1. Jurkowitz, Mark, Paul Hitlin, Amy Mitchell, et al. “The Changing TV News Landscape.” Pew Research Center. http://stateofthemedia.org/2013/special-reports-landing-page/the-changing-tv-news-landscape/