Much to the reporter’s consternation the "60 Minutes" staff have become the news for the last two weeks. True journalism as we know it is under attack. To deny this one only wants one side of a story told and is unwilling to be open-minded and listen. George Orwell's most famous quote on journalism is:
"Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations."
I would like to add to that by defining propaganda: It is the systematic dissemination of biased or misleading information designed to manipulate public opinion, attitudes, or behavior. Or, as Orwell also called it “public relations”.
According to Google AI: The purpose of “60 Minutes” has been to deliver hard-hitting investigative journalism, agenda-setting newsmaker interviews, and in-depth profiles through a magazine-style format. Since 1972 I believe it has upheld the purpose. I always came away, better informed to make my own decision on the facts presented.
There is a “60 Minutes” segment in their early archives that left me in tears.
I am dyslexic. I went through my primary school years knowing something was wrong (different) in the way I saw and read words. Reading out loud was torment for both me and anyone that had to listen. My written papers typically looked like someone had bleed-out with red marks everywhere. I endured being called “retard” and sniggers when I had to read before the class.
A great analogy is to understand dyslexia is to language/words that color blindness is to perceive color. That is a great and common way to describe it! Just as color blindness is a difference in how the eyes perceive color, dyslexia is a difference in how the brain processes language. In fact, doctors in the past literally referred to dyslexia as "word-blindness".
Up until the airing of that “60 Minutes” segment I had never understood dyslexia or even heard the word. That was my first realization that I was not the only one and there was nothing wrong with me. It was explained that those of us with dyslexia just processed language differently. In fact, dyslexia is common and, in some ways, enhances logic and critical thinking.
I had already graduated from college and was excelling in a new, to the 70’s, career of system engineering.
Watching that "60 Minutes" segment I literally sobbed. It was the revelation of knowing why I was different.
“60 Minutes” for its decimation of information has always held a special place in my heart. Many consider it to be the gold standard of investigative journalism. The loss of that source of information and many times it’s “truth-to-power” approach, will be a tragic loss to journalism as we know it today.
The Interview
