Friday, September 4, 2009

The Trustworthiness of Sources

What role should the info pro play in vetting the trustworthiness of sources?

Short Answer: A large and active role.

Longer Answer: Most information professionals received training either in school, on the job, or through personal experience, that helps us evaluate a source and measure its credibility. Having this skill helps us point our constituents in the right direction. With the information floodgates standing wide open and information flowing all around us 24/7, info pros have a professional obligation to help manage that flow.

We should speak out on the wide variations in source reliability and educate the public on the importance of understanding a source's bias. Who is better qualified to do this than a trained librarian or information professional?

First, let's understand what we mean by bias and what our clients might need to know about the sources they consult. It is common knowledge that the National Review is a conservatively biased magazine, while The Nation represents the liberal point of view. Both are thoughtfully written and trustworthy. Historically they have not relied on exaggeration or misrepresentation to make a point. While biased, they are trustworthy. An info pro would know that and should make it known to others.

Here's a different kind of example. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is widely known in the United States for quality entertainment, educational shows, and trustworthy news programs. PBS is mandated by law to present objectivity and balance in its broadcasts. PBS posts its editorial standards on its web site, and an independent review board assesses whether PBS is meeting these standards. If our constituents are relying on PBS forinformation that may impact their business decisions, voting behavior, or other important decision making, they should know this.

Fox Broadcasting Company, on the other hand has no such mandate or oversight. Operated by News Corporation, Fox Broadcasting offers widely popular entertainment programming including shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and House. They deliver news programming through The Fox News Channel (FNC). Rupert Murdoch created FNC as an alternative to what he considered a liberally biased media. We know from the example of the National Review and The Nation that a conservative or liberal bias does not necessarily impact reliability or trustworthiness. Either a liberal or a conservative media outlet can provide fact-based arguments. The Fox News Channel has not proven itself to be trustworthy when it comes to delivering the news. Examples abound, but a representative one can be found on the Factcheck.org site. The example is a misrepresentation of the facts made by Glenn Beck about the Cash for Clunkers program. If our constituents are relying on Fox News forinformation that may impact their business decisions, voting behavior, or other important decision-making, they should know this.

Information professionals have an opportunity and an obligation to speak out on the trustworthiness of sources - now and always.