TED'S TAKE: DIFFERENT RULES, DIFFERENT REALITIES

Consider Europe. In the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK), there are differing rules regulating free speech. In the United States (US), we have freedom of speech because it is baked into our Constitution. We can say a lot about anything even when it’s in conflict with our government because we have that right.

In the EU, it’s not the same.

They don’t have free speech and rules governing the press are not the same as the US. There’s a big difference between what is permissible.  The problem comes when in a global economy, the EU press engages with the US population, and the US population fails to understand the different rules at play.

In the UK, the press can change things in quotes –more than a paraphrase . Now even video content can be edited.  Under their rules, that’s OK – look at the recent BBC documentary for a prime example. However, it’s not what was actually said and therefore violates the US rules.

In our global economy, where the press work under different rules  there will likely be innocent recipients of the incorrect information (or misinformation)It’s not like there are warning labels on each publication or each television broadcast, or a basic statement of their press guidelines.

Since I understand the stark differences, I simply ignore whatever those publications or television channels put out or say. Or if I do read or listen to them, I do it to understand what their population is seeing and hearing so that I better understand other things I hear from those countries; learn their perspective.

Remember some countries have no true rules for press, but control them completely (China, Russia, Iran, etc.). Message: Be cautious if reading or listening to news from international outlets, understand the rules they are playing by.