Commentary: Reach out, stay informed against disinformation and continue to look at the truth even when it’s difficult, advises Salish Current‘s managing editor
Dear Readers —
To be a journalist during a time of civil unrest is to be the eyes of the people when they are struggling to see. When they are unsure of the future and so weary of looking at the world, it seems as if turning a blind eye becomes a sort of protection mechanism.
I call myself an unexpected journalist, a term coined by a previous colleague of mine, Reagan Jackson, who, like me, found herself in the role because traditional media left our voices out. And while I may have ended up as a journalist unexpectedly, my decision to become managing editor was intentional: to help steer us through the blind spots; to encourage our writers to keep their eyes open so that they may assist our readers in staying informed, even when it feels like the news is grim.
This week, I will attend the Bellingham City Club meeting on disinformation — a topic that has threatened our elections, national security, public health and more than we may even understand; one that makes the grim news harder to digest because we must distinguish what’s accurate and true. We must investigate the news.
I did not expect to be writing to you again so soon, but in light of the assassination attempt on former President Trump, I cannot be silent. If you are struggling to see a way forward, if you are grappling with this nation’s violent history, as Lane Morgan so eloquently addresses in her Community Voices piece, then know that you are not alone.
The sins of this country, tied to the history Morgan mentions, are our collective burden, one that we must face together for democracy to endure. Please keep that in mind as we move forward into these uncertain times. And remember that every action we take contributes to shaping who we are as a nation.
In closing, I encourage you to use your voice. Reach out, stay informed against disinformation and continue to look at the truth even when it’s difficult because many do not have the privilege of turning away.
— Patheresa Wells-Vick, Managing Editor