UPF Peace Forum Discusses Unbiased Media

“America, Our Country—How to Find Unbiased News Sources and How to Develop the Mind of a Citizen Journalist” was the title of a presentation held by the U.S. chapter of the Universal Peace Federation at the Clifton (New Jersey) Family Church on Sunday, April 30, 2017.

Journalist Tamara Starr, the editor-in-chief of Melomania News, former content producer for The Boston Globe and former editor of Patch.com, was the speaker.

Some key points made by Tamara were that we should:

• teach our children to double-check that news content is confirmed before they react to it
• be aware that media sectors have their own agendas and therefore present biased views
• avoid sources that present extreme views. She explained that if viewers refuse to watch certain news programs, it will result in low ratings, thus forcing providers to improve the quality of content presented. She compared it to consumers refusing to buy food which is not organic and non-GMO.

The twenty attendees participated in lively questions and answers. Some expressed concerns that the news media are promoting division in our nation and that America is losing its God-centered values.

The Q&A session was followed by reading aloud inspirational passages about the United States. These included excerpts from Democracy in America, the famous book written by the 19^th-century French historian Alexis de Tocqueville, and from “God’s Hope for America,” the speech given by True Father during his U.S. speaking tours of the 1970s in which he described the journey of the American Pilgrim Fathers to find freedom of worship.

At previous meetings, the 2016 book If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty, by American author Eric Metaxas, was recommended reading.

UPF-USA holds monthly meetings on various topics; meetings are usually held at 78 DeMott Ave. in Clifton, New Jersey, at 1:30 p.m. on a Sunday. Meetings are free and open to the public. All are welcome. Any inquiries may be directed to Tony Vozza at tvozza44@gmail.com.

Contributed by Christine Libon