Trust and confidence in the mass media was never higher than the 1960s and 1970s when Americans relied on steady voices like Walter Cronkite to report about the Vietnam War and other news in a fair and accurate way. The Watergate scandal brought investigative journalism to a new level and by 1976, the media reached its highest approval rating with 72 percent.

Last week a poll showed "Americans' trust and confidence in the mass media dropped to its lowest level in Gallup polling history, with only 32 percent saying they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the social institution.The way we became informed changed dramatically with the rise of the Internet and social media but this delivery system does not help in credibility. There are thousands of news "sources" and much of the online material being spewed out is not fact-checked. Too many news outlets sacrifice truth and integrity for the quick-hitting viral stories.A prime example of how the media can prolong an unfiltered story was the shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black man, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, two years ago. This case helped spark the tensions, protests and civil unrest we've been seeing in a number of our inner cities. Ferguson also helped spawn the Black Lives Matter movement and in recent weeks, fueled pro quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision to protest racial inequality and police brutality by not standing for the national anthem at his NFL games.The phrase "Hands up, don't shoot" contributed greatly to the outrage surrounding the Ferguson shooting. Believing the accounts that Brown had his hands up in surrender when he was shot, protesters began the chant, "Hands up, don't shoot" while protesting the alleged mistreatment of African-Americans at the hands of police.That expression, however, was built on a lie. On March 4, 2015, the Department of Justice concluded after its own investigation that witnesses who had incriminated officer Darren Wilson were not credible and that the officer shot Brown in self-defense. Some "eyewitnesses" later admitted they didn't even see the shooting.It was the news media that helped spread and then perpetuate the "Hands up, don't shoot" slogan. From the day Brown was shot to the date the Department of Justice report was released, the big networks of ABC, NBC and CBS used the phrase or showed protesters chanting it an incredible 140 times.Network journalists continued to use the phrase while covering the Baltimore and Cleveland riots. CBS was the lone network that finally reported that it was a false expression, admitting that federal investigators said the evidence supported officer Wilson's version of events and that there was no credible evidence that Brown had his hands up attempting to surrender.The media also underreported the Colin Kaepernick story by not fully investigating or informing us about the socks the quarterback wore during spring training practice. They depicted policemen as cartoon pigs which tells us something about Kaepernick's motivation.In a released statement, Kaepernick said he wore the socks in the past "because the rogue cops that are allowed to hold positions in police departments not only put the community in danger, but also put the cops that have the right intentions in danger by creating an environment of tension and mistrust."An incensed Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, called it "ridiculous" that the NFL took no action against Kaepernick while it denied a plan by the Dallas Cowboys to use a helmet decal as a tribute to the five police officers killed in July's sniper attack.Polls show that most responders disagree with Kaepernick's decision to protest racial inequality and the police by not standing for the national anthem. In a Reuters poll of 1,481 people, 72 percent believed Kaepernick's behavior was unpatriotic.Although many respondents disagree with Kaepernick's stance, 64 percent of all the people who were surveyed agreed that Kaepernick still has a constitutional right to protest and shouldn't be punished by the NFL.Some national celebrities, like supermodel Kate Upton and actor James Woods have publicly criticized NFL players for their national anthem protest on the anniversary of 9/11. Upton called the actions of Kaepernick and Miami Dolphins players disgraceful and disrespecting of those who fought and died for our nation."Protest all you want and use social media all you want," she stated. "However, during the nearly two minutes when that song is playing, I believe everyone should put their hands on their heart and be proud of our country for we are truly blessed."Woods said the NFL can do what they want and say whatever they think, adding that he respected their constitutional right to do it. He then announced a personal boycott of his own."I hope they respect my constitutional right never to watch the NFL again … I will never watch the NFL again, ever," the actor stated.It's refreshing to hear from celebrity types like Upton and Woods who refuse to be part of the liberal entertainment establishment and are not afraid to express their personal views on American values.By Jim Zbick |

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