4A | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Cottage Grove Sentinel
116 N. Sixth St.
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NED HICKSON , MANAGING EDITOR |
Opinion
541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ CGSENTINEL . COM
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ment for a redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800)
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Will we allow ourselves to be informed or distracted?
protected by the intellect sons of trust between
of an informed society.
the American people
One of the key ingre- and those who govern,
dients to a foundation whether it be in Wash-
strong enough to support ington D.C., state govern-
While watching cov- the weight of democracy ment, a national corpora-
erage of the Democratic
debates along with my
normal intake of national
From the Editor’s Desk
news, I switched between
Ned Hickson
CNN, ABC, FOX-News,
CBS and others. I read
news articles online and within our Constitution tion or with local officials
in print. Even after two is the freedom given to and institutions.
The trust we place in
years, I continue to be the press. Its intention
struck by how one event is to guarantee a level of journalism is one of the
can be seen so differently transparency within the cornerstones of main-
by so many news orga- government and, just as taining a unified, peace-
nizations — nearly all of importantly, keep gov- ful society. Without the
which had a clear slant, ernment from manipu- trust and belief that we
lating the information its are an informed people,
whether for or against.
the ensuing uncertainty
When our forefathers citizenry receives.
Shortly after the Mis- is fertile ground for cha-
included Freedom of
the Press in the Consti- souri School of Journal- os, mistrust and division.
Today’s Information
tution, they knew it was ism was established in
1906,
its
founder,
Wal-
Age,
thanks to the inter-
a double-edged sword
with as much potential ter Williams, wrote The net and social media, has
to do harm as it could to Journalist’s Creed. With- forged its own two-edged
sword with the potential
ensure the exchange of in it are these words:
I
believe
that
clear
to do as much harm as
factual communication
free from governmental thinking, truthful state- good. In the late 1950s,
ments, accuracy and fair- iconic newsman Edward
interference.
However, they knew it ness are fundamental to R. Murrow recognized
was a risk that needed to good journalism, and that this paradox. News re-
be taken if America was the supreme test of any porting was being trans-
going to have a chance journalist is the measure formed from the purely
word-driven medium of
at establishing a peaceful of their public service.
Journalists
are
liai-
radio into a much more
democracy — one that is
powerful visual medium
of television.
In 1955, during an
awards dinner where he
was the keynote speak-
er, Murrow spoke of the
new television medium
and the paradox it pre-
sented for journalists and
our society; it’s a paradox
we find ourselves facing
once again in the age of
social-media-style jour-
nalism — and in particu-
lar, the ease in which as-
sumption can be passed
along as fact.
In his speech, Murrow
challenged us to utilize
the new medium of tele-
vision as a way to en-
hance our understanding
of issues and each other.
“Otherwise,” he said in
his final remark, “televi-
sion is nothing more than
lights in a box.”
As we enter into the
upcoming election sea-
son — both nationally
and within our own com-
munities — we need to
ask ourselves whether the
age of information will
enhance our understand-
ing or simply distract us
with the lights inside the
small boxes in our hands.
nhickson@cgsentinel.com
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPS
Oregon state
representatives
Oregon federal
representatives
• Sen. Floyd Prozanski
• Rep. Peter DeFazio
District 4 State Senator
PO Box 11511
Eugene, Ore. 97440
Phone: 541-342-2447
Email : sen.fl oydprozanski@
state.or.us
(House of Representatives)
405 East 8th Ave.
#2030
Eugene, Ore. 97401
Email: defazio.house.gov/
contact/email-peter
Phone: 541-465-6732
• Rep. Cedric Hayden
Republican District 7 State
Representative
900 Court St. NE
Salem, Ore. 97301
Phone: 503-986-1407
Website: www.leg.state.or.
us/hayden
Email: rep.cedrichayden@
state.or.us
• Sen. Ron Wyden
405 East 8th Ave., Suite
2020
Eugene, Ore. 97401
Email: wyden.senate.gov
Phone: (541) 431-0229
• Sen. Jeff Merkley
Email: merkley.senate.gov
Phone: 541-465-6750
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