Are Confederate statues anti-American? Citing them as symbols of racism and white supremacy, figures of Confederate heroes are coming down around the South. The Pentagon effectively banned the Confederate flag. Some consider these actions important steps to take to counter this nation’s history of persecution of non-white Americans. As symbols of a regime that upheld slavery, they [...]
In previous blogs, we have looked at what might be considered a shocking suggestion: let’s re-evaluate what free speech really means. Here’s two good reasons backing that recommendation. If social media steps forward to police content on the basis of veracity, the area most likely to be attacked first is misinformation about the current pandemic. [...]
As communicators, we’ve all seen wonderful causes fail to make an impact, sway minds and prompt action. For example: The legislative program that saves lives but can’t get that important point across because the explanation is lost in “wonkspeak” The honorable company that chooses not to respond to untrue allegations because they don’t want to [...]
Facebook’s refusal to label or prohibit Donald Trump’s posts promoting police violence, in contrast with its own policies and legal guidance prohibiting speech that incites violence, is prompting massive protests from its employees, the media and social media. Twitter’s action to label his tweets as having questionable (or no) facts about mail order ballots contributing [...]
In recent years, health care experts are paying increasing attention to the health care factors that occur outside the doctor’s office, Referred to as “the social determinants of health,” these factors include access to healthy food, safe housing, transportation, supportive families and social networks. With current “shelter in place” guidelines in effect, imagine the situation [...]
Are you home with kids and running out of things to do? Here’s a challenge – turn your stay-at-home doldrums into an interactive civics lesson and lively debates that will inspire your children – and you – to become active, engaged citizens. Why is this important? According to a just released study by the Knight [...]
The growing wealth gap among citizens is a major public policy concern for the United States. Income inequality has very real consequences for the people at the lower end of the gap, but it doesn’t stop there. As the divide in wealth continues to grow, it will have a negative impact on other public policy [...]
Technology is rapidly changing the nature of healthcare: its capability, delivery, and efficiency. Healthcare organizations are constantly coming up with new innovations to improve the abilities of physicians and the outcomes of care, particularly in fields that present more challenges. One of the latest advances, the ABS Virtual Office from Alternative Behavior Strategies (ABS), is [...]
Journalists have long been the “gatekeepers” of news and information in society. Today, tools such as the Internet and social media have given millions more people the power of mass communication, and reduced the influence of professional journalists to set the agenda. But even facing an intense increase in competition, reporters still rely on and [...]
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” This famous quote, often attributed (rightly or wrongly) to Mark Twain, illustrates a human susceptibility to sensationalism and speculation over researched fact. In a digital age increasingly free of traditional informational gatekeepers, it often seems as if lies [...]
