Farm Bureau answers ‘Where do you go for the truth?’

The Grimes County Farm Bureau (GCFB) welcomed 140 members and guests to the 58th annual meeting Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Anderson. Attendees enjoyed the traditional steak dinner and received valuable information about resources to ferret out fact from fiction in a world of media bias.

Defining bias

Thirty-five years ago armed with a Journalism Degree from Texas Tech University, Lubbock Channel 13 rookie reporter Gary Joiner, just knew he was headed for the big time in New York or Los Angeles. But an interview with then Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) president S.N. True changed his life and taught him “what better reporting is, what better fact-finding is.” Three months later, the self-described “fake news reporter” went to work for TFB “because they needed someone to tell the story of agriculture.”

Joiner, now the director of Communications for TFB, told the audience, “Bias is not the same as not being factual. Bias is perspective. Bias is the attitude and viewpoint that that news outlet or a reporter is approaching the story. It doesn’t mean the facts aren’t true. It’s the lens that they’re looking at it and the lens they’re going to report it. You as an individual, if you know that, you can make some judgements.”

Become your own fact-checker

Joiner shared statistics from a recent Gallup Poll about American’s lack of trust in the media. Only 7%, the second lowest number on record, have a great deal of confidence in the media.

He said, “Only 29% have a fair amount. I don’t think the media ever gains the trust of the American people again.”

A slide of Walter Cronkite hit a nostalgic nerve with many in the audience who remembered Cronkite’s coverage of the Kennedy assassination.

Joiner said, “He was part of American culture, part of the American trust. We don’t have that anymore. So, what do we do?”

To counteract the propagandists and spinners reporting news to “achieve an outcome,” Joined urged the audience to fact-check for themselves and he provided several free sources.

Given the vast number of events going on in the world, www.leadstories.com reports what’s trending and whether it’s fact or fiction. According to Joiner, www.snopes.com, the original fact-checker, has become more robust in the stories they’re fact-checking and is another option.

To get a perspective from the left, the right and the center, as well as the direction a media outlet leans, go to www.allsides.com.

Joiner reiterated, “Bias is not an inaccuracy, it’s a viewpoint, it’s a perspective. As long as you know the bias of the news outlet you’re looking at, you can filter through the spin and find the true nuggets of information that are helpful.”

According to Joiner, www.mediabiasfactcheck.com combines the fact-checking with bias research and created a single source which rates 4,000-plus publications as well as journalist based on history and performance. Another option available is www.flipside.io which gives raw information from the left and right perspective through a daily email blast.

John Solomon, formerly associated with The Hill, Fox News and The Washington Post, now reports what’s happening in the nation’s capital through www.justthenews. com, practicing his craft as a journalist the way he wants. Also working with Hill, is former national correspondent, Sharyl Attkinson who produces a 22-minute weekend program called “Full Measure with Sharyl Attkinson” available in 10 markets in Texas. Joiner described Full Measure as an alternative to Face the Nation, Meet the Press and George Stephanopoulos.

Miracle of agriculture

When Joiner and TFB receive a call from the Houston Chronicle or the Texas Tribune, “we know how they’re approaching that story, through left center no doubt,” but TFB takes that opportunity as the voice of TFB because “We need to be seen, we need to be heard, but we know where they’re coming from.”

In closing, Joiner said TFB receives more than 140 media inquires a year from the Madisonville radio station to The Washington Post to the British Press.

He said, “Our goal is to be honest, transparent, truthful and provide as much information to the American public as we can because they need to know what 1.5% of our population are doing to feed them and 30% of the world. The miracle of U.S. agriculture never ceases to amaze me and you’re part of that miracle.”

GCFB year in review

Hanna Abraham, president of the Anderson-Shiro FFA, called the meeting to order. After introduction of the board of directors, agency and office staff, GCFB president Gary Moriarty recapped the activities of the last 12 months which included attendance at the Texas Farm Bureau Convention, the TFB Summer Leadership Conference, the TFB President’s Conferences, the TFB Policy Development Meeting in Bellville and the TFB District Caucus.

The GCFB remains committed to the youth of Grimes County and continued its support of the Youth Fair with an expenditure of $12,000-plus and Field Agent Jessica Nemir partnered with the Navasota Public Library to educate children about agriculture using the GCFB mobile ag trailer.

Four $1,000 scholarships were also awarded this year. Recipients Lacey Wheaton and Avery Buenger were present and expressed their gratitude for their scholarship, both citing the high cost of a college education.

Giving back to the community, the GCFB donated $1,800 to the County’s volunteer fire departments and $2,240 to county food pantries.

After approval of the minutes, treasurer’s report and reelection of Ronnie Floyd and Tim Akers to the board, GCFB members approved resolutions presented by Tim Akers and Ronnie Floyd. See related article, page 3.