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And that’s the way it is ... or is it? A conversation with Patti Epler, Honolulu Civil Beat; José Fajardo, Hawai‘i Public Radio; and Leslie Wilcox, PBS Hawai‘i How do you know real news from fake news? When legendary anchorman Walter Cronkite signed off his CBS nightly newscasts with the phrase “And that’s the way it is,” we had no reason to question otherwise, especially from the man often cited at the time as “the most trusted name in America.” Fast-forward to today, where news arrives—fast and furious—on many media platforms, and some of it is without a basis in fact. The phrase “fake news” has become sufficiently widespread that lexicographers have now added it to dictionaries. Against this backdrop, Hawai‘i Community Foundation assembled a panel of nonprofit media professionals to speak to an eager audience of donors and partners about the approach being taken locally to help community members sort out fact from falsehood. The event is one of several that HCF organizes throughout the year on issues of interest to its legacy givers. HCF’s Senior Director of Communications Lynelle Marble posed a pivotal question to Patti Epler (Editor/ GM of Honolulu Civil Beat), José Fajardo (President/ GM of Hawai‘i Public Radio), and Leslie Wilcox (CEO/ President of PBS Hawai‘i): “How can you tell the difference between fake and real news?”
“More and more people are willing to hear the facts but believe in different truths.”
- Leslie Wilcox, PBS Hawaii
All three encouraged news consumers to educate themselves, starting with verifying that they are getting their news from a fact-checked news source, like the ones they represent. “Civil Beat adheres to the standards and ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists and Associated Press,” explained Ron and Ivy Timpe learn about the Epler. latest issues in Hawai’i through HCF Legacy Society events.