Editorial world
Editorial: Media bias and fake news
By Ryan Rosario
The media in this country has been a major driving force in every election and political issue dating prior our founding fathers, whether it be from newspapers or websites, articles informing American voters about facts and events facing the country have been a long term enterprise. However, for every positive thing the media shares there is a downside. On September 8, 2004, 60 Minutes, a TV news show reported on a story,which later be known as “Rathergate”. 60 Minutes gave Lt. Col Bill Burkett a platform to put forth incriminating evidence of the Bush campaign days before the election. The "only" problem here was that the evidence was false.
Although bias in the media has existed forever, the real question now is: how big of a problem is it? With platforms like Facebook and Instagram many people get an audience to spread false rumors. For example, recently, there has been an explosion of measles across Europe. This outbreak can be attributed to Facebook and the fake news that spread on its platform. In Romania in 2006, 96% of children were vaccinated. Today this number has significantly dropped to 76%. Experts attributed this large decrease to a 1998 paper published by Andrew Wakefield, a doctor from the UK, who has been discredited for his claims that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine caused Autism.
Even though Wakefield has been discredited, the amount of parents who aren't vaccinating their children has skyrocketed. This can be attributed to the rumors and misinformation spread by the media. This makes media bias a very important issue as this epidemic would not be happening if some of these people were not given a spotlight. Another contributing force to this discussion is Vice News. Vice news released a piece criticizing the anti- vaccine community.
While the community is just as subjected to criticism as any other million dollar enterprise, news corporations should not give these people a chance to spread these rumors. The amount of reporting on these topics (fake news) for nothing but ratings, is enormous. Our media spends too much energy on stories that don’t really matter. As an example, here’s a news story that got minuscule coverage. Recently, the President Trump, withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Trade partnership. He was led to believe this would help our economy.. Instead of reporting on important economic implications of the President’s decision, major corporations like CNN and MSNBC focused instead on the amount of cans of soda the President drank each day. This is true agenda setting.
In short the media does not always care about the truth, they have an agenda. Whatever that agenda may be, they will try to achieve it. During the recent presidential race it was proven that the media purposely did not cover the Bernie Sanders campaign as to showcase Hillary Clinton. The moral of the story is do not trust all the media, look for yourself and form your own opinion.
The media in this country has been a major driving force in every election and political issue dating prior our founding fathers, whether it be from newspapers or websites, articles informing American voters about facts and events facing the country have been a long term enterprise. However, for every positive thing the media shares there is a downside. On September 8, 2004, 60 Minutes, a TV news show reported on a story,which later be known as “Rathergate”. 60 Minutes gave Lt. Col Bill Burkett a platform to put forth incriminating evidence of the Bush campaign days before the election. The "only" problem here was that the evidence was false.
Although bias in the media has existed forever, the real question now is: how big of a problem is it? With platforms like Facebook and Instagram many people get an audience to spread false rumors. For example, recently, there has been an explosion of measles across Europe. This outbreak can be attributed to Facebook and the fake news that spread on its platform. In Romania in 2006, 96% of children were vaccinated. Today this number has significantly dropped to 76%. Experts attributed this large decrease to a 1998 paper published by Andrew Wakefield, a doctor from the UK, who has been discredited for his claims that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine caused Autism.
Even though Wakefield has been discredited, the amount of parents who aren't vaccinating their children has skyrocketed. This can be attributed to the rumors and misinformation spread by the media. This makes media bias a very important issue as this epidemic would not be happening if some of these people were not given a spotlight. Another contributing force to this discussion is Vice News. Vice news released a piece criticizing the anti- vaccine community.
While the community is just as subjected to criticism as any other million dollar enterprise, news corporations should not give these people a chance to spread these rumors. The amount of reporting on these topics (fake news) for nothing but ratings, is enormous. Our media spends too much energy on stories that don’t really matter. As an example, here’s a news story that got minuscule coverage. Recently, the President Trump, withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Trade partnership. He was led to believe this would help our economy.. Instead of reporting on important economic implications of the President’s decision, major corporations like CNN and MSNBC focused instead on the amount of cans of soda the President drank each day. This is true agenda setting.
In short the media does not always care about the truth, they have an agenda. Whatever that agenda may be, they will try to achieve it. During the recent presidential race it was proven that the media purposely did not cover the Bernie Sanders campaign as to showcase Hillary Clinton. The moral of the story is do not trust all the media, look for yourself and form your own opinion.
World Report: Brexit
By Samuel Hurlburt and Scott Angilly
Brexit is the nickname given to Britain’s exit from the European Union. It combines the words Britain and exit, and it signifies the United Kingdom’s exit from the European economic group known as the European Union, or EU. Some say this exit is one of the most important moments in modern British history. Founded in 1993, the European Union is a group of 28 (soon to be 27) European countries whose goal is to promote a single market, where there are limited restrictions on trading and the products being traded. It also has policies on fishing, agriculture, and other forms of economic staples.
There are many reasons why the UK had an exit from the EU scenario in mind. First, being a member of the EU has proved to be expensive. Secondly, many people in the UK believe that being a part of the EU has brought uncontrolled immigration within their country. Although Brexit seems like a recent event, it actually goes all the way back to the 1970’s, over 40 years ago.
The October 1975 election, brought the Labour Party (similar to the Democratic party in the US) to have the majority in government. The Labour Party members held a referendum ( a vote that included the entire electorate) on whether the UK should stay with the European Union and the European Communities, EC. The results of the referendum showed that a majority of the electorate prefered to stay in the EU/EC.
After this vote, the Labour Party continued to campaign leaving for the EU, and in the 1983 general election promised to leave without holding any referendum or vote, although their defeat in the election changed this. In 1994, a larger blow occurred when Sir James Goldsmith formed the Referendum Party, in order to gain enough seats in Parliament to hold another referendum in the 1997 general election. However, he only received 2% of the vote, which was so spread out across the country that it did not gain a seat in Parliament. as more pressure was put on the UK to change currencies from the pound to the Euro, which was unfavorable throughout the country, leaving the Eu became more and more popular, until 2015, where a poll showed that 30% favored leaving.
After the Conservative Party won the 2015 general election, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that another referendum would take place on June 23rd, 2016. During this time, two main campaign groups formed. The main campaign for leaving was called Vote Leave, and the main campaign for staying was called Britain Stronger in Europe, although there were many other campaigns created by different political parties, they all fit into one of the two’s ideologies and supported one or the other. Notable celebrities who supported leaving the EU included Roger Daltrey, the singer for the 60’s and 70’s rock band, The Who, and John Cleese, the Co founder of Monty Python and the voice of Nearly Headless Nick in the Harry Potter films. People who supported staying in the EU include soccer star David Beckham and singer Sir Elton John.
On the morning of June 24th, 2016, the results of the vote were announced to the world. Around 52% of the population voted to leave the EU, while 48% voted to stay. Because of this, the UK would officially leave the European Union by 2019. After the results became official, Prime Minister David Cameron formally announced his resignation, and was replaced by fellow conservative Theresa May.
Because the vote was so close, it has been marred with controversy. A conspiracy theory came saying that now Prime Minister Theresa May had a plan to rig the vote, and a movement called “Use Pens” hatched after people feared their votes would be rubbed out and replaced if they used pencils. People have accused Russia of interfering with the election, similar to accusation in the U.S 2016 presidential election. Unlawful donations from Saudi Arabia have also been alleged since the vote. Also, surprisingly, almost 1% of all votes cast were either blank or invalid.
Brexit has and will have lots of significant effects on the UK. It is estimated that the UK will lose around 70 million pounds in economic growth. Also, membership in the EU accounted for up to 71,000 jobs and 10 billion pounds of tax money. This is major, as the UK has the fourth largest economy with an annual GDP of around three trillion US dollars. Although after this, it may seem that Brexit was not a good idea, there are many benefits that come with it. Every country in the EU has to help pay the budget. In 2016, the UK paid 13 billion pounds to the EU. Now, the Uk does not have to pay for the EU, and has more money to spend on other things within the country.
One of the biggest effects Brexit had was its effect on the price of the pound, the UK’s form of currency. Only three days after the Brexit vote, the price of the pound dropped to its lowest in the last three decades. After Brexit, one pound cost $1.33, compared to its usual $1.60, and only recently has it rose above $1.40. The price of the pound is expected to rise steadily, as its crash was only expected to be a temporary problem, and was one of the main arguments for the “stay” movement.
Even on a smaller level, Brexit has its benefits. Because the EU had tariffs, or a tax duty, on food, the cost of most food items can drop up to 40%, and clothing and footwear up to 20% in the near future.
With all of its controversy, the UK will exit the European Union. This will with no doubt go down as an important historic moment for both the UK and the world, will continue to have its benefits and its negativities throughout the course of modern British history.
Brexit is the nickname given to Britain’s exit from the European Union. It combines the words Britain and exit, and it signifies the United Kingdom’s exit from the European economic group known as the European Union, or EU. Some say this exit is one of the most important moments in modern British history. Founded in 1993, the European Union is a group of 28 (soon to be 27) European countries whose goal is to promote a single market, where there are limited restrictions on trading and the products being traded. It also has policies on fishing, agriculture, and other forms of economic staples.
There are many reasons why the UK had an exit from the EU scenario in mind. First, being a member of the EU has proved to be expensive. Secondly, many people in the UK believe that being a part of the EU has brought uncontrolled immigration within their country. Although Brexit seems like a recent event, it actually goes all the way back to the 1970’s, over 40 years ago.
The October 1975 election, brought the Labour Party (similar to the Democratic party in the US) to have the majority in government. The Labour Party members held a referendum ( a vote that included the entire electorate) on whether the UK should stay with the European Union and the European Communities, EC. The results of the referendum showed that a majority of the electorate prefered to stay in the EU/EC.
After this vote, the Labour Party continued to campaign leaving for the EU, and in the 1983 general election promised to leave without holding any referendum or vote, although their defeat in the election changed this. In 1994, a larger blow occurred when Sir James Goldsmith formed the Referendum Party, in order to gain enough seats in Parliament to hold another referendum in the 1997 general election. However, he only received 2% of the vote, which was so spread out across the country that it did not gain a seat in Parliament. as more pressure was put on the UK to change currencies from the pound to the Euro, which was unfavorable throughout the country, leaving the Eu became more and more popular, until 2015, where a poll showed that 30% favored leaving.
After the Conservative Party won the 2015 general election, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that another referendum would take place on June 23rd, 2016. During this time, two main campaign groups formed. The main campaign for leaving was called Vote Leave, and the main campaign for staying was called Britain Stronger in Europe, although there were many other campaigns created by different political parties, they all fit into one of the two’s ideologies and supported one or the other. Notable celebrities who supported leaving the EU included Roger Daltrey, the singer for the 60’s and 70’s rock band, The Who, and John Cleese, the Co founder of Monty Python and the voice of Nearly Headless Nick in the Harry Potter films. People who supported staying in the EU include soccer star David Beckham and singer Sir Elton John.
On the morning of June 24th, 2016, the results of the vote were announced to the world. Around 52% of the population voted to leave the EU, while 48% voted to stay. Because of this, the UK would officially leave the European Union by 2019. After the results became official, Prime Minister David Cameron formally announced his resignation, and was replaced by fellow conservative Theresa May.
Because the vote was so close, it has been marred with controversy. A conspiracy theory came saying that now Prime Minister Theresa May had a plan to rig the vote, and a movement called “Use Pens” hatched after people feared their votes would be rubbed out and replaced if they used pencils. People have accused Russia of interfering with the election, similar to accusation in the U.S 2016 presidential election. Unlawful donations from Saudi Arabia have also been alleged since the vote. Also, surprisingly, almost 1% of all votes cast were either blank or invalid.
Brexit has and will have lots of significant effects on the UK. It is estimated that the UK will lose around 70 million pounds in economic growth. Also, membership in the EU accounted for up to 71,000 jobs and 10 billion pounds of tax money. This is major, as the UK has the fourth largest economy with an annual GDP of around three trillion US dollars. Although after this, it may seem that Brexit was not a good idea, there are many benefits that come with it. Every country in the EU has to help pay the budget. In 2016, the UK paid 13 billion pounds to the EU. Now, the Uk does not have to pay for the EU, and has more money to spend on other things within the country.
One of the biggest effects Brexit had was its effect on the price of the pound, the UK’s form of currency. Only three days after the Brexit vote, the price of the pound dropped to its lowest in the last three decades. After Brexit, one pound cost $1.33, compared to its usual $1.60, and only recently has it rose above $1.40. The price of the pound is expected to rise steadily, as its crash was only expected to be a temporary problem, and was one of the main arguments for the “stay” movement.
Even on a smaller level, Brexit has its benefits. Because the EU had tariffs, or a tax duty, on food, the cost of most food items can drop up to 40%, and clothing and footwear up to 20% in the near future.
With all of its controversy, the UK will exit the European Union. This will with no doubt go down as an important historic moment for both the UK and the world, will continue to have its benefits and its negativities throughout the course of modern British history.
World report:
It’s heating up in North Korea
By Scott Angilly
North Korea has been testing ballistic missiles and and even worse, the United States of America itself. These tests are only a small aspect of everything that has gone on in North Korea from past to present.
At the end of World War Two the Japanese territory of Korea was divided between the United States which received the South and the Soviet Union (Russia) which received the North. In 1948 a communist party in North Korea called the Korean Workers Party was founded and a North Korean Soviet Soldier named Kim Il-sung became President while he was actually a dictator.
Overtime, the hermit kingdom, North Korea under Kim Il-Sung’s personality cult called Juche came to be a communist dictatorship known officially as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Today, North Korea is testing the United States and the World with statements and missile tests. There has been quite the war of words between President Donald J. Trump and Marshall Kim Jong-un. One should not get into these petty arguments, but they are becoming more and more unstable and therefore threatening to our country.
In 2016 North Korea conducted five missile tests and in 2017 as of September 15th, 2017 they’ve launched 15 missiles. Fortunately for the United States and the World none of these tests actually hit any land. Most of them dropped into the Sea of Japan. On the other hand, since 1998, six missiles have actually flown over the Japanese Archipelago.
The United States and the international nuclear community are trying to somewhat work things out diplomatically. It seems that not only has this failed, but on top of that, North Korea is telling its citizens that the US has declared war on them. Historically this is nothing new to our ears. They’ve been saying that they have been at war with the US since the end of the Korean War in 1954.
In our lifetime, we will probably see a reunified Korea where there is no north or south, just one Korea. This reality may or may not be achieved through violence or it may or may not be achieved through a diplomatic solution. For now we don’t have a clue how this situation will resolve itself.
North Korea has been testing ballistic missiles and and even worse, the United States of America itself. These tests are only a small aspect of everything that has gone on in North Korea from past to present.
At the end of World War Two the Japanese territory of Korea was divided between the United States which received the South and the Soviet Union (Russia) which received the North. In 1948 a communist party in North Korea called the Korean Workers Party was founded and a North Korean Soviet Soldier named Kim Il-sung became President while he was actually a dictator.
Overtime, the hermit kingdom, North Korea under Kim Il-Sung’s personality cult called Juche came to be a communist dictatorship known officially as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Today, North Korea is testing the United States and the World with statements and missile tests. There has been quite the war of words between President Donald J. Trump and Marshall Kim Jong-un. One should not get into these petty arguments, but they are becoming more and more unstable and therefore threatening to our country.
In 2016 North Korea conducted five missile tests and in 2017 as of September 15th, 2017 they’ve launched 15 missiles. Fortunately for the United States and the World none of these tests actually hit any land. Most of them dropped into the Sea of Japan. On the other hand, since 1998, six missiles have actually flown over the Japanese Archipelago.
The United States and the international nuclear community are trying to somewhat work things out diplomatically. It seems that not only has this failed, but on top of that, North Korea is telling its citizens that the US has declared war on them. Historically this is nothing new to our ears. They’ve been saying that they have been at war with the US since the end of the Korean War in 1954.
In our lifetime, we will probably see a reunified Korea where there is no north or south, just one Korea. This reality may or may not be achieved through violence or it may or may not be achieved through a diplomatic solution. For now we don’t have a clue how this situation will resolve itself.