by Shelby Carter, Vice President, Business Risk Management, US Bank
The October 21st session of Leadership Bend (LB) included a valuable discussion around media literacy and the evolving landscape of journalism in the age of "fake news." Not only did we learn some helpful tools to really help us consider the truthfulness or bias of news, but we also discussed why it's such an important topic of discussion as leaders in our community going through the program. Spreading misinformation can be dangerous and understanding the accuracy and sources of our news is critical. Stories can be spun to push an agenda and at that point it leans towards propaganda.We began the day with break-out group discussions to explore where we get our news, how we see news outlets in today's society as well as learning about some really helpful resources. I learned five essential rules to help navigate and critically assess media: know the source, know the content, know the facts, know the date, and know yourself. These principles reinforced the importance of intentional media consumption. My biggest takeaway was the idea that while alignment with familiar viewpoints can feel comforting, true growth comes from engaging with diverse perspectives. Someone in my group mentioned the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to explore the two sides to every story, which I hadn't really considered before. AI can be a helpful tool, but nothing compares to the human intellect. We must thoughtfully research the facts and use multiple sources to arrive at truth, or the closest we can get to truth. The introduction of the "Media Bias Chart" was particularly helpful in visualizing how different outlets present information and where bias may influence reporting. Being aware of how these news outlets may skew politically, in addition to their accuracy, is extremely useful when considering where to turn for my news.The second session featured a journalism panel with Emily Cureton (OPB), Allen Martin (Central Oregon Daily), and Jody Lawrence-Turner (Bend Bulletin). Their insights into the challenges and responsibilities of local journalism highlighted the importance of integrity, transparency, and community engagement in reporting. Hearing directly from these professionals deepened my appreciation for the role of local media in shaping public discourse and informed decision-making. I learned about the intense pressure local journalists have to get the story accurate, but also be the first to release it. The world we live in, with social media at our fingertips, has only exacerbated the problem. While digital platforms have democratized access to information, they’ve also blurred the lines between credible reporting and opinion, making it harder for audiences to distinguish fact from fiction. Journalists must navigate a landscape where speed often competes with accuracy, and where algorithms can amplify misleading content. I learned the rigorous process that local journalists go through, the fact-checking, the interviewing of multiple sources, the editorial process (much like the scientific theory), which helps hold reporters accountable. It's for this reason that surveys show that the majority of people still trust their local journalists. These "zombie newspapers" are giving news a bad name, but let's not forget we still have a vote. We vote by choosing wisely where we turn to for our news and which outlets we subscribe to. It's our duty to engage with news thoughtfully and responsibly.While our third session on the agenda featuring Rev. Dr. Steven Koski was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, the remainder of the day was spent on ironing out which impact projects would be moving forward. My heart lead me to the Oregon Adaptive Sports (OAS) project, which garnered a lot of support from the LB cohorts. OAS' mission that celebrates resilience, adventure, and human connection resonated with me and my love for the outdoors. We have a great team of nine individuals; it was fun listening to their diverse skillsets and watching people step into certain roles. At this point I'm very optimistic we'll be able to contribute meaningfully towards the deliverables and deadlines that lie ahead. Hopefully we'll be able to hear from Rev. Dr. Koski at some point in the future. I have no doubt his lessons on civility would be extremely good to hear.Overall, I'd say the session was extremely valuable. I got some great face-time with some of my cohorts after hours and those connections continue to amaze me. We have a fabulous community and I continue to be grateful for this opportunity to participate.
