Perhaps maybe one day, some algorithm will sift through the mass media and social networks to identify actionable and profitable data. One thing is for sure: The reader doesn’t have that algo.
No. 3. Understand the motives of content creators. This goes beyond mere bias or conflicts of interest and strikes at the heart of the matter: What’s in it for them?
I have long said that I write (to borrow an idea from Daniel Boorstin, the historian and former head of the Library of Congress) “to figure out what I think.” But it is much more than that. Writing can be a branding exercise, for sure. But more important, it creates a record that others can examine for accuracy and credibility.
In an era of fake news, understanding who and what you are reading is more important than ever -- especially if you have money riding on it.
This column was provided by Bloomberg News.