Welcome back to the discussion! Let’s jump right in. (See “Reading the news like a spook 101,” Aug 3., Tribune-Herald, if you need to brush up).
The next step in learning to approach news, and other information, like a professional intelligence officer is self-correction for personal bias. What do I mean?
We all come to the information table with mental filters, based on life experiences, that color how we see things; political and religious leanings are major ones. Failure to identify and curb our prejudices can leave us rejecting sound reporting because it is delivered by a person or platform with philosophical, political or moral views that differ from our own.
Alternatively, we may embrace bad information simply because it is delivered through a vehicle that aligns with our personal proclivities or because the narrative agrees with our views (confirmation bias). Relatedly, we must resist the instinct to fill information gaps with personal assessment and then embrace it as a factual completion of the story (and dismiss the input of others who do this).
Ignore the seductive nature of the sensational, the conspiratorial, and apply Occam’s Razor (the principle that the simplest explanation is the most likely to be true.)
Crucial, too, is the ability to parse news, to separate fact from opinion. Statements of fact are relatively easy to identify. Their point of origin is usually clear — content of a document, an event caught on camera, an eyewitness account.
Opinion, on the other hand, can fall into a gray area. Some is clearly offset by code words — “in my view,” “we assess,” “in her judgement,” “they believe.” However, some is worded like a factual statement, particularly when the author aims to influence us, and may be flagged by subjective qualifiers — “it is clear that,” “everyone agrees,” “it is easy to see.”
Then there is the need to identify information that is specifically crafted to influence more than inform — propaganda. Generally speaking, there are three types:
— White. Acknowledges its source. Advertising is one form. (“Uncle Kimo’s ono poke is the freshest on the island!”) State-run media is another form. Radio Free Europe’s ongoing transmission into Russia of Russian-language news about Ukraine is white propaganda; Uncle Sam is clearly identified as the source.
— Gray. Does not acknowledge its source. Most often today encountered in social media and chain emails, frequently as emotionally charged stories that push an agenda on lightening-rod issues — pandemic maintenance, election integrity, the Second Amendment, immigration, oil prices, or social justice. Rule of thumb: If the ultimate source of the message or funding is obscured, it is likely gray agitprop.
— Black. Paints another party as the source. Most difficult to identify. False flag operations, be they information or action in nature, are a type of this insidious art form. (Welcome to the dark side.)
Finally, a word on evaluating visual media. Photographs and videos are powerful tools for influencing target audiences. (“A picture paints a thousand words.” Right?) The 1994 release of the film “Forest Gump” opened the world’s eyes to the possibilities of deep fakes. The technology has since improved, become more accessible, and appears with some frequency in social media posts intended to sway opinion.
Context is equally important. A legitimate photo of one event presented as if it represents another event can be equally misleading. How do we evaluate whether or not visuals are doctored or out of context? You can learn to look for clues, but perhaps easier is the use of free, online, reverse-image search engines, like tineye.com.
Phew! That was a lot of ground to cover in very few words, and I feel that we only scratched the surface. Nevertheless, this two-part series has given you tools like those used by CIA officers to more effectively navigate the wilderness of mirrors that is today’s information ecosystem.
I encourage you to employ your new mental kit as you consume your news, especially when weighing competing narratives, whether it concerns Orchid Isle politics, the Ukraine conflict, upcoming elections, or the latest hot-button social issue.
Be informed, not influenced. Be akamai.
(Want to dive deeper? Check out the recently released “Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects our Minds and How to Build Immunity,” by Sander van der Linden.)
J.P. Atwell is a former senior CIA operations officer. His two-decade career began as an intelligence analyst and took him to every continent, save Antarctica. He now calls Hawaii Island home. He welcomes your comments at island.intelligencer@gmail.com.