On Media and Critical Thinking

Idle No more ‏@IdleNoMore4

Why we all need 2b critical of what we see about #IdleNoMore in the media. On Media & Critical Thinking http://wp.me/p1Ruhw-9g #cdnpoli

http://bluekimanderson.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/on-media-and-critical-thinking/

I guess because I am a singer, I consider the tone of media automatically. No matter whose speech, writing, body language, I immediately note the tone(s) of communication. Is it authoritative? Hyperbolic? Guarded? Cold? Cruel? Critical? Dismissive? Sarcastic? Argumentative? Dictatorial? Celebratory? Gleeful? Gravely concerned? Calm? Pleased? Belittling? Something else? I could go on for so long, but I won’t. You get the point.

And here’s the most fun critical thinking part (for me): How does the tone prime me? What specific state does it predispose me to, as the message is delivered? How does it effect message’s impact on me?

As I’m considering tone, I’m noting what is being conveyed as fact. Am I being told about a place? A person? A percentage? A group? A discovery? A question? An event? What specific things am I being told, and about what? And, because I am still sobered by realizing the implications of the Santa Clause fiasco, I ask myself: Is this true? Is this thing, actually, a fact?

Here’s an interesting example from the past week. I’ve noticed a shift, in mainstream media, from referring to demonstrators as “Idle No More demonstrators” to referring to Idle No More demonstrators as Natives. Let that sink in for a second, please. And understand the scope and impact of that shift.

(More at the link.)