Photo by David Ryder as published by the Seattle Times.

As a democracy, we rely on media to be informed and know what is going on around us.

This weekend The Seattle Times exposed “Fox News published digitally altered and misleading photos on stories about Seattle’s Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in what photojournalism experts called a clear violation of ethical standards for news organizations.”

As the Poynter Institute shares on its blog – “This is bad. Really bad.”

Tom Jones from Poynter went on to write, “There’s no other way to put this: These are fireable offenses. They are inexcusable. This is no different than completely making up a story — which many (me, included) consider to be the worst offense in journalism.”

So why does this matter?

We use the media to know what is going on. The media, sometimes referred to as the Fourth State, plays a significant role in our democracy. The information we glean from the media influences awareness, attitudes, opinion, and behaviors – including voting.

In the midst of a pandemic, it is even more evident that we require trustworthy and accurate reporting. We are reliant on media to learn how we can stay safe and understand the role each of us play in “flattening the curve.” Inaccurate, exaggerated, or fake news can have life and death consequences.

When media publish false, fabricated or incorrect information, it diminishes trust. Trust in media has already been low. According to a Gallup poll in 2019, 41 percent of Americans “currently have ‘a great deal’ or ‘fair amount’” of trust in newspapers, television and radio to report the news ‘fully, accurately and fairly.”

Regardless of your political leaning or party affiliation, we need ethical and factual media as part of a healthy and functional democracy.

Demand accuracy. Think critically. Read before you share. Don’t spread misinformation.

• Fake News: How To Spot Misinformation
• How to fight lies, tricks, and chaos online
• 5 strategies to identify doctored images