Rear View Mirror

Consumer confidence is at an understandably historic low and the news seems to get worse by the day. I have often thought about how the warning on your rear view mirror is like our current reality. You have all seen the warning:

Objects may seem larger than they really are

Although much of the news we hear today is not all that encouraging, we must realize that the media is there to get people to read the newspaper or magazine or listen to or watch their publication or station. The business model for the media is providing free content in order to sell advertising.

If we think about the motivation behind a media outlet - newspapers, magazines, TV, Radio, etc. - we begin to realize that what is being reported may be true, but how it is reported and the spin that has been applied, is to hype the story to grab and maintain your attention for as long as possible.

That is why when you are watching the news, the anchor exclaims, “Big drop in home prices! See how this affects you! Stay tuned for the full story after these messages.”

After returning to the program from the commercial break ,you continue to watch, waiting for the story about your home value, when the reporter again teases you with, “Next up, real estate prices plunge. How much has your home value dropped? This and other news after this commercial break."

The point I am attempting to make, is that most news we hear or see has a spin to it and an ulterior motivate, which is more than just accurately reporting the news. The motive: the more people that tune in, the higher the advertising rates.

Do not get sucked into believing that the news is as bad as what you read in the newspapers or see on TV.

As you look into your mirror, objects may seem larger than they really are. However, I believe there is a silver lining in all of this....full story in my next posting.