Information Wars

These days one would hard-pressed to identify anything being fought over more than information. (Perhaps water might take that honor though it depends upon what part of the world we are discussing.) Still, information seems to be the top prize for all kinds of elements of society. One of the big-name information warriors on the field right now is Sinclair Broadcasting, a firm that owns more local television stations in the United States than any other company. Sinclair has a very conservative bent and wants to ensure its many affiliates are passing along information that perpetuates that particular bias.

A big problem with that is the fact operates under the guise of sharing all information with its viewers  without any deliberate filter. Recent news reports have shown this not to be true. Yes, Sinclair is in the information business but not to the extent of being thoroughly generous with it. Its philosophy, much like Fox News, to cite another example, is to pass along its perspective of the world to others. Information wrapped in objectivity is not what either one of these highly-influential entites is about. This sad reality coupled with the Trump administration's ongoing attacks on the media put unfiltered information at-risk.

There is another band of information warriors on the field that can join in the information fight but in a way that supports unbiased information sharing. These are those men and women working in public relations. Though they often represent clients who want these communication professionals to perpetuate a certain point-of-view, PR workers are supposed to be committed to the truth. They are dedicated to being honest and not attempting to mislead or deceive others. By following their code of ethics, these professional communicators can help ensure information is shared with the public as it is meant to be shared: without filter.