Journalistic Truth in a Spin Today

by Michael Shackleton · February 19, 2017

Guest editorial by Michael Shackleton – It is instructive that the upcoming presidential elections in France have pushed some internet giants to prepare for them by providing new fact-checking tools.

Facebook, Google and others already have these tools in place in the United States and Germany. They know from experiencing dubious information flowing freely during the American presidential rallies, that potential false reports must be swiftly identified. Their originators must also be traced.

News in the present era is spread by professional journalists but also by an array of elusive authors whose content is anything but the whole truth, and it is factual news that steadies the ship of state. Information that is not trustworthy renders the public uncertain and confused. Fact-checking has become a necessity.

Spin doctors have become well known today. Governments, organisations and individuals make use of spokespersons who interpret negative or depressing news in a way that gives it the positive and glossy shine of apparent credibility. Like skilful sportsmen and sportswomen, they take a fact, treat it like a golf ball or cricket ball, and spin it in motion so that it deviates from a direct trajectory and deceives the recipient.

Techniques used to put a positive spin on bad tidings include outright denial, changing the subject, misquoting statistics, distortions, mudslinging and selecting some good features while burying the bad ones in circumlocution or silence.

We reported recently how the Vatican had to reject as “invented” quotes attributed to Pope Francis, such as that miraculous things could be achieved in the world by merging our different religious faiths, and the time for doing so was now.

Media experts advised users of social media to double-check content before sharing it on platforms such as Facebook or Twitter to avoid circulating material containing falsehood or distorted information.

Keeping the public informed and therefore able to size up the events of the day, is the work of the media. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that those in charge of communications should maintain a fair balance between the requirements of the common good and respect for individual rights (2492).

The Church recognises that the media, if properly used, can be of major service to humanity. It greatly contributes to our entertainment and instruction as well as to spread and support the Kingdom of God. The Church is also aware that the media can be employed contrary to the plan of the Creator.

In his 1963 decree Inter mirifica, Pope Paul VI pointed out the necessity of applying the norms of morality in the communications business. This is largely because the spreading of any kind of news can have huge effects on people, especially if they are unprepared for it.

People have a right to get information about matters concerning individuals and the community. The pope insisted that both in the search for news and in reporting it, there must be full respect for the laws of morality and for the legitimate rights and dignity of individuals.

Morality, of course, is interpreted in a variety of ways today, and the idea of objective norms for moral conduct is disputed. Nonetheless, the Church teaches that truth and truthfulness are a reflection in the human person of the truth of God himself.

We are created in the divine image and we are obliged as Christians to follow the lead of him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Cynics tend to dismiss objective truth and morality as a mostly interpersonal affair. When using Facebook or Twitter, we must avoid taking such a stance, and stand always for what is true, good and beautiful before God.