HOT PURSUIT
It’s no secret that we live in a society that thrives on social media. The greatest downfall of getting all giddy over Facebook posts and other social media platforms is that much of the information shared is quite often found to be false or misleading.
In the age of social media, there is a ton of misinformation that often gets circulated. This is disheartening for professional news organizations like the Steele County Times. Inaccurate information shared online travels significantly faster than factual news.
Bad information threatens public health, distorts political discourse and erodes trust in institutions. Studies have revealed that social media and the spread of misinformation is infectious and a threat to public health. Sadly, people fall for it because they are often on information overload. The sheer volume of content makes it difficult for users to critically evaluate every post, forcing them to rely on shortcuts and share based on emotion rather than accuracy.
The best way to get around misinformation is for you to verify the source of where the information started. This can be done by checking if the claim is being reported by credible, trusted news organizations or official institutions.
Other ways you can spot fake news is developing a critical mindset, researching who else is reporting the story, thinking about the evidence outlined in what has been reported and listening to your gut.
When it comes to local news, I hope you will find our newspaper as a trusted source. We have experienced, full-time journalists working tirelessly to cover Steele County and the surrounding area. We pour our hearts into Steele County. And we want to keep those hearts beating strong and even stronger than ever before.
Despite the ongoing challenges facing newspapers across the country, we are focused on keeping local news alive. Through our nonprofit initiative that began last November, we hope to strengthen local journalism. But that can’t happen without the support of readers, businesses and civic organizations. We can now accept donations in which the givers can receive the full tax deduction allowed by law.
Philanthropy is quickly becoming an important source of funding for newspapers across America. The traditional sources of subscriptions and advertising are not enough to sustain quality journalism.
Long-time Owatonna business owner Debra Gnemi has joined the Times as the community outreach coordinator to spearhead our efforts with the nonprofit campaign. Besides being a huge fan of local news, she is committed to this effort as a way to give back to the community she has lived in for most of her life. (Read more about the effort on 3A.)
Steele County is home, and the Steele County Times is proud to help keep you connected. Steele is where our heart is. Every week, we bring you the stories that bring us together. Supporting us means keeping our community informed, connected, and proud. When you invest in local news, you invest in Steele County’s future.
We’re well aware that readers want their local news. And our commitment is to make the Times a trusted source of local news. We hope you realize that together, we can protect the future of local news in Steele County.
Consider going in hot pursuit of helping us remain a viable source of local news—free from the misinformation of social media— for generations to come.