Would reintroducing military conscription help restore a sense of nationalism and social unity among today’s youth? Some European countries, like Sweden, have already started a draft, and France is currently implementing one month of mandatory military service. However, critics argue that military conscription would be counterproductive as some people would still refuse to serve. Even if civilians may learn technical and survival skills from military conscription, such initiatives may put them at greater risk when an actual war breaks out, not to mention violate their personal freedom. 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
