| During the 2008 presidential elections, the internet | | | | access to reputable news websites such as CNN, |
| became a force all its own. Rampant with the | | | | Reuters and the Associated Press allow satellite |
| most outlandish rumors and the strangest claims, | | | | internet users to stay up-to-date on what is going |
| satellite internet and other connections went from | | | | on with little, if any, effort. It could be argued that |
| being seemingly fair sources of information to | | | | it makes information available to a larger |
| open forums for the silliest minds. Barack Obama | | | | community of individuals (as most people are |
| was suddenly a terrorist. And Sarah Palin's baby | | | | connected to the online community in some way |
| really belonged to her daughter. Crazy rumor | | | | today). |
| followed crazy rumor as the more gullible | | | | Nevertheless, the internet also has many |
| Americans began to believe even the most | | | | downfalls when it comes to considering it as a |
| unbelievable claims. | | | | legitimate news source. Even the most reputable |
| In the post-election world, things have not gotten | | | | websites are driven and funded by advertisers, |
| much better. Satellite broadband and other | | | | rendering them prone to err towards the side of |
| internet sources provide access to websites and | | | | sensationalism instead of honest journalism. The |
| blogs that write that the new health care package | | | | internet also often comes with a connotation of a |
| will include death panels and that the recent | | | | sort of "anything goes" attitude, rendering |
| disaster in Haiti has come as the result of the | | | | websites less responsible for the viability of the |
| American government's experimentation. In | | | | content they provide. |
| reality, in the online community, you can find | | | | Beyond these most reputable sites, however, are |
| someone who will say just about anything. | | | | the thousands of blogs and unregulated websites |
| In light of this, it is time to ask ourselves one | | | | that feature claims with absolutely no basis. If it is |
| question. Can the internet - satellite broadband, | | | | hard to find "fair and balanced" information on |
| wireless, dial-up, DSL and beyond - be counted on | | | | even the Fox News website regarding politics, it is |
| as a legitimate source of information? | | | | impossible to find it on most blogs. In the online |
| The answers - yes, answers with an s - to this | | | | world, it seems that all is fair in love and war... in |
| question are complex. | | | | politics. |
| The internet has certainly changed the ways in | | | | What does this mean for satellite internet and |
| which we gather information. Signaled by many as | | | | political news? Not much. For the American people, |
| the bringer of death to the newspaper and to | | | | however, it means a good amount of prudence |
| magazines, it has quickly become the go-to | | | | and skepticism when approaching the information |
| source for many Americans hoping to find out | | | | we find online. While the internet can be a great |
| more about what is going on in the world. | | | | source of information, it can also be abused by |
| To a certain extent, this is a good thing. Free | | | | those with hidden agendas. |