Desert Messenger

6 www.DesertMessenger.com March 15, 2023 DESERT MESSENGER Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper Proud to be a Quartzsite Licensed Business 928-916-4235 O� T��� - E���� T���! Founded by Walt Akin October 1, 2004 P�������� �� P���� R��� P��������� C�. P.O. Box 3185 Quartzsite, AZ 85359 NOW PUBLISHED ONCE/MONTH on the 3rd Wednesday of each month OWNER/EDITOR/PUBLISHER GRAPHIC DESIGN/ AP AR MARKETING EXECUTIVE/CLASSIFIEDS Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Starr BearCat NAME PLATE DESIGN Paul Winer www.DesertMessenger.com www.DesertMessengerOnline.com E-mail: Editor@DesertMessenger.com 2022-23© Copyright All Rights Reserved Copyright 2013 Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Desert Messenger. LIKE US on Facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews FOLLOW US on Twitter @QuartzsiteRain By Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear QUARTZSITE ROCKS! EDITORIAL "One doesn't have to operate with great malice to do great harm. The absence of empathy and understanding are sufficient." ~ Charles M. Blow Words actually do have power and can be dangerous. How? We all know about January 6th, the high suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth, increasing threats to offi cials and judges, and the recent shooting of 16 year-old Ralph Yarl for ring- ing the wrong doorbell. Stop push- ing hate and fear, folks! 15 years ago this month I began the incredible journey of becom- ing publisher of this small commu- nity paper. I spent the whole sum- mer researching the role and huge responsibilities the universe had provided. This included courses at Associated Press Journalism, The Society of Professional Journalists' (SPJ) Code of Ethics, and Media Lit- eracy at Poynter Institute, all while learning a new software program. I reached out to my former supervi- sor at Ashland Daily Tidings and my managers at the Medford Daily Mail Tribune for guidance. I asked this community a variety of ques- tions, wanting to learn as much as I could. When I attended a Free Community Paper Assoc. annual conference in 2010, ethics became the main topic of discussion. There are three questions I ask myself before writing or publishing an article: Is it true? Is it respectful? Will it benefi t the people? These questions were not ran- domly chosen, but they're from those who have gone before me. Journalists have a responsibility to the public to make sure their words are accurate. We MUST take re- sponsibility for the accuracy of our work and verify information before releasing it. We must acknowledge our mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently. According to UNESCO Journalism, fake news & disinformation: hand- book for journalism education and training, "Journalism also needs to proactively detect and uncover new cases and forms of disinformation." Journalists must also expose uneth- ical conduct in journalism. So, when I read articles in a lo- cal tabloid that causes harm to the public trust, I felt I must speak out. These are just a few: In an article, "Italy Coronavirus: New Explosive Information," the author specifi cal- ly quotes a Bloomberg article dated "March 18" but conveniently left out the year "2020" when it was actually published. Misleading the readers in believing the number of cases were "new" is violating public trust. Many articles in that tabloid are opinion columns, reprinted from conspiracy websites, which mas- quade as factual journalism. One article had a particularly shocking headline; "The Rainbow Jihad Comes for the Christians." There is NO such thing by the way! That was a phrase ONE Iowa GOP Representative used in 2019 in a fi t of anger which has become a trig- ger phrase to create more anger. Haven't we had enough of hate and anger in our lives? After reading that column, I have to admit that my body went into instant panic and began shaking, especially as the article ends with this warning, "They won't stop until they conquer you. And at the mo- ment, they are winning." Talk about implanting fear into people's hearts just reading those words! Why would I react in such a way? Well, I'm a member of the LGBTQ+ community and my wife serves on Town Council. My mind went di- rectly to the many LGBTQ+ folks right here in town and became con- cerned about their well-being, as well as ours. "Emotional lability" is a neurological condition common in stroke survivors. It can mean that my mood changes very quickly and I can be more emotional than I used to be. I use cognitive strategies to managing my emotions, but this felt like an attack on me and my family. There is a reason you can't yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater when there is no fi re. All it takes is another angry person with a gun believing that fear-based opinion piece, disguised as real journalism, and someone could get hurt. Words have power! Another column was reprinted from a satirical website, without any reference to that FACT. There is no evidence from credible news reports that the events described at GITMO took place at all. And then there's the reprint of a Russia-friendly piece by Pepe Es- cobar. The United States State Department's Global Engagement Center (GEC) has identifi ed sev- eral outlets that publish or repub- lish work by Pepe Escobar as being used by Russia for propaganda and disinformation. According to SPJ, Ethical Journalists should "Consid- er the long-term implications of the extended reach and permanence of publication." I pray for the safety of everyone in our community, including our LG- BTQ+ folks here and around the na- tion as hate crimes and gun violence increase. Wonder why? Maybe it's shitty articles like these! If you or someone you love are struggling, call or text the Lifeline at 988. Available 24/7 and confi - dential. There are crisis counselors available to listen and support you without judgment. We each have a role in stopping hate and creating safe, inclusive communities.

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