The “A black-and-white American flag with one blue stripe” was conceived with good intentions, but it seems to have become a controversial symbol that perpetuates a “us versus them” mentality between the police and citizens. The “thin blue line” was meant to “show support for law enforcement—no politics involved.” Now, some say “it feels akin to a Confederate flag.” The truth in its history? It was created to sell merchandise to support law enforcement non-profits. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
