Let's change the media...

HUGE task, right? Yes it is.

Can we change the media?

Yes we can. (I almost hate using that phrase!)

The Read My Lipstick Network is on board with this effort and they've set up a page on www.readmylipsticknetwork.com. There is also a new Facebook group titled Media Blackout.

One of the things we're talking about is having a block of time each week (for starters) where everyone turns off their television. We thought about Friday night simply because that's date night for a lot of people so those who have spouses who won't turn of the tube for any reason could drag them out of the house for a few hours. Just don't take them to a sports bar with televisions all over the place!

WAM (www.wam08) has a page and they've been out collecting signatures for a petition. We need to join in their efforts, too.

I'm tired of having the media lead us around. It is so subtle we don't even realize how our thoughts are affected.

Here's an exercise to try: Think about any belief you have about current politics. Now try to figure out WHY you think what you think. How did you get your information? Go out and do some research and pinpoint the facts. Can you do it without using a newspaper?

Here's another exercise: Compare news stories between a variety of media outlets. Try for one that is considered ultra conservative, one that is balanced and one that is liberal. Compare the way the story is written and the information contained in the story. Look at where the information is placed in the story. It's standard to put what you want people to know at the beginning of the story, the counter opinion at the end (because most people don't read a story to the end).

Newspaper headlines are most often NOT written by the person doing the reporting. The headline is often all that people see.

We have a problem in America and it's not going to get any better if we continue to raise our children with the TV as a babysitter. Have you ever watched any of those children's programs? the cartoons? Our kids are being brainwashed.

Well, it's time to send a message. Let's talk about how we're going to do it.